Marianum in de oude Sint-Martinuskerk te Neer c. 1900 - 1910

This photo captures a Marianum in the old Sint-Martinuskerk te Neer, crafted by an anonymous hand. There's something about the way this photograph presents a sculpture, how the light seems to emanate from the sculpture itself, that makes you think about the process of artmaking as something almost alchemical. The texture of the sculpture feels both solid and ethereal. The monochrome palette emphasizes the play of light and shadow, giving the work a timeless quality. The radiating lines behind the figure create a sense of movement, as if the sculpture is not static but in a state of perpetual becoming. Looking at the folds of fabric in the sculpture, you can almost feel the hand of the artist shaping the material, teasing out forms from a shapeless mass. It reminds me a bit of Rodin, in the way he captured movement and emotion in his sculptures, or perhaps even a bit of Bernini’s flair for the dramatic. Art, after all, is just one big conversation.