Maria 1845 - 1899

Cornelia Marjolin-Scheffer etched this tender image of Maria, capturing her soft features and gentle expression. She is distinguished by a halo, an attribute that signals sanctity and divine grace. The halo appears throughout history, from ancient sun symbols to its adoption in Christian iconography, representing spiritual illumination. Here, Maria clasps her hands in a pose reminiscent of prayer, her gaze directed towards the heavens. This gesture echoes in countless devotional images across cultures, each iteration charged with the same yearning for transcendence. Consider, for instance, the supplicating figures in Byzantine mosaics, or the praying hands of Dürer. They all tap into a collective memory of reverence. The image stirs within us a primal recognition, evoking not only religious piety but also the universal human desire for connection to something beyond ourselves. This etching serves as a mirror, reflecting our own longings and fears back at us, a testament to the enduring power of visual symbols across time.