Tronende Maria met het Christuskind 1566 - 1585

This print of ‘Tronende Maria met het Christuskind’ was made around 1600 by Wierix and is housed in the Rijksmuseum. A radiant light pours down from above, illuminating Mary and the infant Christ, who are centrally positioned amidst a celestial court of angels. The composition, dense with figures, invites the eye to wander, yet it always returns to the focal point of maternal and divine love. Wierix employs a complex semiotic system, where light signifies divine grace and the multitude of angels represents the heavenly host. The structural arrangement of the figures, from the cherubic faces at the base to the crowning angels above, creates a visual hierarchy that reinforces the spiritual narrative. The materiality of the print itself—the fine lines etched into the metal—allows for a delicate rendering of texture and light, further enhancing the ethereal quality of the scene. The careful structuring of the composition invites contemplation of the interplay between the earthly and the divine. Through this formal arrangement, the artwork functions as a visual embodiment of theological doctrine, inviting viewers into a space of reverence and contemplation.