Madonna and Child c. 17th century

Curator: Let's discuss Jean Louis Roullet’s "Madonna and Child," a print held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The stark monochrome creates such a solemn mood; the figures seem almost sculpted from the paper itself. The strong chiaroscuro throws the viewer's gaze immediately onto her face. Curator: Indeed. Roullet, working in the late 17th century, captured the symbolic weight of motherhood and divinity through this timeless image. The book she holds, no doubt, is a signifier for the scriptures and her profound wisdom. Editor: That's quite interesting because the linear precision and the balanced composition really emphasize the formal qualities here, echoing Renaissance ideals in its depiction of an almost perfect form. Curator: Absolutely. The way the child clings to her also speaks to the enduring human need for protection and love, a visual echo that transcends time. Editor: Precisely, and seeing this print, even its inherent visual structure becomes a symbol in its own right, pointing back to those ideals. Curator: Seeing how these cultural symbols manifest through visual language really makes it so intriguing. Editor: I agree; this exercise in form unlocks a lot more than I expected.