Maria met Christus en heiligen 1816 - 1886

Charles Onghena created this drawing, "Maria met Christus en heiligen," using lines to depict the Virgin Mary with Christ and saints. The composition is structured within a delicate architectural framework, its arches and columns providing a backdrop that both confines and elevates the central figures. Notice how Onghena employs the interplay of lines to define form and space, creating a sense of depth. The figures, draped in classical robes, are rendered with precise contours, their gestures and expressions suggesting piety and reverence. This aesthetic borrows from Neoclassical ideals, emphasizing clarity, order, and moral virtue through its representation of religious figures. The drawing's aesthetic rigidity can be read as a reflection of broader cultural codes and the desire to reinforce religious orthodoxy during Onghena's time. This work invites us to explore how art not only represents but also reinforces particular visions.