Maria met kind 1524 - 1540

Parmigianino made this small etching, Maria met kind, in Italy sometime in the 1520s or 30s. It depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. The image speaks to the culture of religious devotion in the Italian Renaissance. Prints like these were not only works of art but also devotional objects, connecting their owners to the divine. We should also consider Parmigianino’s artistic ambitions. Printmaking allowed artists to circulate their designs widely. It offered him a way to establish his reputation and influence other artists, without relying on the patronage of powerful institutions like the church. To fully understand this work, one could explore the history of printmaking, the culture of religious devotion in the 16th century, and the artistic networks that spread new styles and ideas across Europe. The meaning of this image is inseparable from its historical context.