Maria met kind op een maansikkel 1589

This engraving of Maria and child on a crescent moon was created in 16th century by Monogrammist AH. Radiating lines of light emanate from behind the Virgin, whose figure dominates the composition. The artist uses a series of intricately placed lines to create tonal variation throughout the work. Note how the lines are not merely descriptive; they construct the figures and their voluminous garments. This meticulous mark-making imbues the image with a palpable sense of texture. This creates an almost tactile experience as the Virgin’s drapery seems to fold and flow with a life of its own. Standing on the crescent moon, Mary, with the Christ child, represents the Woman of the Apocalypse. This is laden with symbolic meaning, reflecting contemporary religious and philosophical ideas about divinity and salvation. The formal elements here function to communicate complex theological concepts in a visual language. In its totality, this engraving opens a space for considering how artistic techniques intersect with cultural and religious meanings.