Maria met kind 1593

Julius Goltzius rendered this image of Maria and child sometime in the late 16th century. Here, the Virgin cradles the infant Christ, who holds an apple, a direct reference to the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Its presence alludes to Christ's role in redeeming humanity from the original sin of Adam and Eve. In antiquity, similar depictions of mothers holding children appear in Egyptian images of Isis and Horus. The motif reappears through the ages, shifting from pagan to Christian symbolism. This image speaks to the subconscious level of collective memory. The mother-child bond, a universal human experience, resonates across cultures and epochs, and it powerfully engages viewers, stirring profound emotional and psychological depths. Consider how the maternal embrace has resurfaced throughout art history, evolving from representations of royal power to expressions of religious devotion, or even as symbols of comfort and hope in times of upheaval.