Heilige verwantschap 1540 - 1590

This engraving, Heilige verwantschap, was created by Frans Hogenberg around the late 16th century, and resides in the Rijksmuseum collection. The composition of the image is structured around a central gathering of figures, flanked by architectural elements. The use of line—dense hatching and cross-hatching—defines the forms and creates a sense of depth within a monochrome palette. This technique, typical of engravings, emphasizes texture and detail. The image is divided into distinct zones through linear perspective. This division not only organizes the space but also highlights different narrative segments within the same frame. The formal structure suggests a world ordered by religious doctrine, but Hogenberg’s technique subtly undermines the fixity of meaning. The composition invites questioning of relationships between sacred and secular, public and private, challenging viewers to re-evaluate established interpretations of religious narratives.