Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een fresco, voorstellende Maria met Kind before 1876

This is an anonymous reproduction of a print after a fresco depicting Mary and the Christ Child, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The original fresco, like many depictions of Mary, speaks to the cultural moment in which the role of women was revered primarily, if not solely, for their capacity to nurture and raise children. Here, we see a tender depiction of mother and child, but it's important to consider the implications of this limited representation of women. Mary's identity is almost exclusively tied to her role as the mother of Christ, reinforcing a patriarchal structure that often confined women to the domestic sphere. Despite these constraints, the image of Mary also offered a powerful symbol of compassion and strength. She embodies the complex intersection of societal expectations and the profound emotional bonds between mother and child. This image invites us to reflect on the diverse ways women have navigated and negotiated their identities throughout history.