Heilige Joris geknield voor Madonna met kind en Johannes de Doper 1710 - 1757

This print, made by Michel Aubert in the 18th century, depicts Saint George kneeling before the Virgin Mary, the infant Christ, and John the Baptist. The iconography of the Madonna and Child represents divine motherhood, fertility, and the promise of salvation. The motif of kneeling before a divine figure is ancient. We see it in Egyptian depictions of pharaohs offering tribute to their gods, and it echoes through the classical world into Christian art. The gesture signifies humility, reverence, and the seeking of divine grace. Saint George's act is reminiscent of the Three Wise Men offering gifts to the newborn Christ, a continuous thread of supplication and adoration in the human psyche. This posture taps into our collective memory, stirring feelings of longing and spiritual seeking. The cyclical nature of these symbols is striking. The image of the Madonna, once a representation of pagan goddesses, now embodies Christian purity and divine grace, a testament to our psyche and its ability to adapt and imbue ancient forms with new meanings.