Virgin and Child in a Landscape 1592 - 1602

Aegidius Sadeler II created this engraving, *Virgin and Child in a Landscape*, brimming with symbols that speak across time. The Virgin Mary and the Christ Child are central, evoking not only maternal love but also divine promise. Mary, the vessel of the divine, echoes in earlier images of fertility goddesses. The Christ Child extends a hand, a gesture seen across cultures, symbolizing blessing and the offer of salvation. Surrounding them, animals such as the lion and fox carry complex meanings, from strength and royalty to cunning and worldly wisdom, all interacting in the landscape. Consider the star above, guiding the Magi, but also reminiscent of celestial signs in ancient mythologies, directing humans towards destiny. In this image, Sadeler touches upon a collective memory, a shared human experience of seeking guidance from the heavens. The symbols, though rooted in Christian iconography, resonate with the echoes of pagan past, revealing how images morph, adapt, and persist through the ages.