Virgin and Child with an Angel 1612 - 1616

Jacques Bellange created this print, "Virgin and Child with an Angel," around the early 17th century. The composition, rendered in delicate lines, evokes a dream-like atmosphere, softened by the contrast of light and shadow. Bellange’s artistic vision is rooted in the aesthetic of mannerism, where idealized beauty and elegance take precedence. Note the Virgin's elongated fingers and refined features, embodying sophistication and grace. The angel's gaze directed at the infant Christ creates a divine connection between heaven and earth. The artist’s style, however, transcends pure aesthetics. Bellange uses a complex interplay of lines to create depth and volume, while also hinting at greater symbolic meanings. The formal elements of this print invite us to contemplate the relationships between the earthly and the divine, and to consider the Virgin Mary's central role in Christian theology.