Getroonde Maria met het Christuskind en de heilige Stefanus en de heilige Laurentius before 1646

Curator: Here, we have Christoffel van Sichem II’s “Enthroned Madonna with Child and Saints Stephen and Lawrence,” a print housed here at the Rijksmuseum dating to before 1646. It’s an engraving. Editor: Wow, there's a starkness about it that really hits you. The high contrast… it feels like peering into a holy dream, if dreams were rendered in ink. Almost feels etched, dare I say, into my soul. Curator: Indeed. This work belongs to the Northern Renaissance tradition, so there is that intentionality in depicting both the divine and humanity's relation to it through specific symbols. Stephen and Lawrence flank the Madonna and Child; both are significant early Christian martyrs. Lawrence, in particular, and his association with wealth distribution connects deeply with notions of social justice within the Church. Editor: I was wondering about that, their positioning… And those halos! Not just radiating holiness, but sort of highlighting the complexities of faith itself. A humble and pure light in an inky sea, what's captured here is the raw emotionality tied to these historical figures, which isn't always captured with religious iconography of this era. Curator: Precisely. By placing these saints within view of the Virgin and Christ, Sichem subtly reinforces the church’s teachings, specifically in acts of service and sacrifice. It links this to social equity as foundational tenets. In light of everything happening politically and socially today, it does push you to reflect on who these historical actors really were and their own motivations. Editor: See, art that transcends mere observation and enters dialogue… I like to think about the artist. What might his story be? Were his personal trials similar, were these the kind of figures he revered… it leaves me wondering, really. Curator: It’s this engraving’s capacity to evoke questions, that solidifies Sichem’s engraving in discourses on not only art but on theology and sociopolitical action. Editor: Beautiful. As we depart from Sichem's etching, let’s reflect not just on art history, but on the timeless invitation it gives to examine our ideals.