Portal der Friedhofskirche in Ornbau 

Karl Ballenberger sketched this portal of the cemetery church in Ornbau using graphite on paper. Dominating the architectural fragment is the iconic figure of the Madonna and Child, a motif deeply rooted in Christian iconography representing divine motherhood and nurturing love. Observe how this maternal image echoes across time and cultures, from ancient fertility goddesses to Renaissance paintings. The Madonna's serene expression, the tender embrace—these gestures resurface in countless forms, each reflecting a collective yearning for comfort and protection. Consider the emotional resonance of this symbol: the mother-child bond speaks to our earliest experiences, triggering deep-seated feelings of security and belonging. Such powerful imagery, charged with emotion, is never truly new, but a constant return—a cyclical presence in our collective consciousness. The Madonna and Child reminds us that these primal bonds are continuously re-imagined, finding new expression across the ages.