Fotoreproductie van een prent door Eduard Mandel van de Madonna Colonna door Rafaël before 1869

Joseph Cundall created this photogravure reproduction of Eduard Mandel's print of Raphael's "Madonna Colonna." The composition is dominated by the figures of Mary and the infant Christ, rendered in delicate gradations of light and shadow. The figures stand out against a softly sketched background, creating a sense of depth and focus. Cundall's photogravure captures the original print's intricate linework and tonal range, highlighting the texture of the paper. The work invites a semiotic reading. The Madonna, a signifier of purity and motherhood, holds the Christ child, a symbol of divine love and sacrifice. This image echoes the Renaissance interest in humanism, blending religious symbolism with realistic portrayals of the human form. It demonstrates how an image can serve as a sign, charged with historical and cultural meanings that extend beyond its formal qualities.