Fotoreproducties van Madonna en de Heilige Johannes door Peter Paul Rubens before 1861

Edmond Fierlants captured these photographic reproductions of Peter Paul Rubens’s Madonna and Saint John, immortalizing not just the image but its enduring symbolism. Observe Mary’s tender embrace, a motif echoing back to antiquity’s Isis cradling Horus, a timeless representation of motherhood and nurturing. Her serene gaze and the infant’s trusting posture evoke a sense of divine protection. Now, consider Saint John’s upward glance, a gesture of supplication found in countless religious works across cultures, from Byzantine mosaics to Renaissance frescoes. This yearning for the divine embodies humanity's eternal search for spiritual connection, triggering a deep-seated emotional response. The figures convey a profound sense of hope. This potent blend of sacred and human elements transcends time, surfacing through art history in endlessly evolving forms.