Maria als Mater Dolorosa 1865

Auguste Danse created this etching of Maria as Mater Dolorosa in 1865. Here, Mary’s sorrow is palpable. Her downturned gaze and the shroud enveloping her head are symbols of mourning. This Mater Dolorosa, or “Sorrowful Mother,” is a potent image that echoes across centuries. We see it in ancient depictions of grieving goddesses and in countless Renaissance paintings. Think of the pietà, where Mary cradles the body of Christ. This gesture of mourning taps into our collective memory. It evokes the primal pain of loss, a universal human experience. The Mater Dolorosa is not merely a religious icon, but a timeless symbol of human suffering, continually reshaped by the anxieties and hopes of each new era.