Maagd Maria en het Christuskind 1825 - 1883

This delicate line drawing of the Virgin Mary and Child is by Theodoor Schaepkens. Schaepkens, who was born in Maastricht, would have been working during a time of growing national consciousness. This image of Mary cradling the Christ child speaks to the idealized role of women in 19th-century Europe, where motherhood was placed at the center of feminine identity. There is a quietness here. Mary's gaze is lowered and her features are soft, embodying a gentle femininity. The Christ child in her arms, embodies innocence and purity. However, If we look beyond the surface, we might question the weight of expectation that such images place on women. Are they icons of love, or silent projections of social ideals that define and perhaps confine the identities of women? This drawing invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between representation, identity, and lived experience.