Maria 1790 - 1844

This is "Maria," a delicate print made by Giovacchino Cantini in the late 18th or early 19th century. Our eye is drawn to the Virgin's clasped hands over her heart, a gesture laden with meaning. This motif—hands meeting the chest—reverberates across centuries. From ancient Roman orators to Renaissance depictions of piety, the hand gesture signified sincerity. Yet, here, with Mary, it suggests profound sorrow and acceptance of divine will. Think of Caravaggio's Magdalene, similarly posed, a mirror to the soul's depths. This mirroring highlights the endurance of emotional expression. The collective unconscious recognizes these gestures. It speaks to our shared human experience of grief and faith, continuously resurfacing.