Maria met Kind en Johannes 1634 - 1679

Nicolas Pierre Loir created this etching, titled 'Maria met Kind en Johannes', sometime in the 17th century in France. It depicts Mary, the mother of Jesus, with the infant Jesus in her lap and John the Baptist as a child beside her, set against the backdrop of classical architecture. France at this time was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church, which commissioned much of the art being made, and the choice of subject matter here certainly speaks to that. However, the classical elements point to another institution and cultural movement - the French Academy, whose artistic guidelines favoured classical style. Mary's garment and the architectural pillar behind her exemplify this style. Historians looking to understand more about this etching might investigate the relationship between the Academy and the Church in France at the time. Art history is always contingent on the social and institutional contexts in which an artwork is made!