Heilige familie 1675 - 1711

This engraving, “Heilige Familie,” presents a tender depiction of the Holy Family. Mary, Jesus, Joseph, and Anne, are accompanied by a lamb, a traditional symbol of Christ's sacrificial role and innocence. Note how the maternal embrace resonates with the "Maria Lactans" motif—the nursing Madonna—that transcends cultures from ancient Egyptian depictions of Isis nourishing Horus, to the Christian era. This motif, symbolizing nourishment and the sacredness of motherhood, continually reappears, adapting to new cultural narratives. The gesture of embrace, central here, is timeless. Think of the countless depictions of mothers cradling children throughout art history, each reflecting the universal yet deeply personal bond between parent and child. It reminds us that art's emotional power engages on a deep, subconscious level. Such symbols are not static. They ebb and flow through time, adapting and accumulating meaning as they resurface in different contexts, embodying our shared cultural memory.