Christuskind en Johannes de Doper spelend met het lam 1587 - 1640

Christoffel Jegher created this engraving, Christuskind en Johannes de Doper spelend met het lam, sometime between 1596 and 1653. The composition of this print directs our eyes to two cherubic children at play with a lamb, juxtaposed against a densely wooded area on the left and a clearing on the right. Jegher uses the stark contrast of light and shadow to intensify the texture of the bark, leaves, and wool, creating a tactile sense of depth and volume. The formal arrangement of figures, landscape, and light can be read as a symbolic language, a semiotic field where each element carries cultural and religious weight. The lamb is a symbol of innocence and sacrifice. The artist destabilizes established meanings, presenting religious icons in a new, intimate light. By focusing on the playful interaction of the children and the lamb, Jegher invites viewers to engage with traditional religious subjects in a more personal way. The formal qualities of light, texture, and composition are not merely aesthetic choices, but also serve as a lens through which viewers can explore the rich cultural and philosophical discourse of the time.