Maria met kind en H. Johannes 1635 - 1645

This drawing, Maria met kind en H. Johannes, was made by Claude Lorrain around the 17th century. Lorrain, who spent most of his life in Italy, lived in a society deeply shaped by religious and political structures. This sketch depicts the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus and Saint John the Baptist, a common subject during the Counter-Reformation, reflecting the church’s effort to reaffirm its doctrines and encourage piety. The artist subtly infuses emotion into the religious scene, softening the traditionally rigid representations. The drawing's small scale invites an intimate viewing experience, drawing viewers into a private moment of maternal tenderness and divine innocence. Although the artwork uses conventional religious themes, it also emphasizes human connections, rendering a sacred scene accessible. Ultimately, the artwork shapes our understanding of religious subjects by framing them through the lens of human emotion and lived experience.