Beeld van Caritas met twee kinderen 1888

This is an etching by Josué Dupon, titled "Beeld van Caritas met twee kinderen," or "Image of Charity with Two Children." At first glance, the composition centers on a classical arrangement of figures, dominated by a maternal figure seated atop a pedestal, embracing two children. The texture created by the etching technique gives the piece a tactile quality, where light and shadow interplay to define form. The print employs a semiotic system. The maternal figure, a universal symbol, represents care and nurture. The children, clinging to her, evoke vulnerability and dependence. This evokes a set of established meanings related to family and social bonds. The etching destabilizes the category of idealized beauty by grounding it in the reality of human connection and vulnerability. The artist uses the formal elements of the etching to highlight the thematic elements of the composition. Ultimately, the artwork functions not only as an aesthetic object but also as a meditation on timeless human values.