Christ as a child, seated, right hand raised in gesture of blessing, surrounded by elaborate ornament 1475 - 1485

This anonymous print presents Christ as a child, his right hand raised in blessing, encircled by elaborate ornament. The gesture of blessing, central here, echoes across centuries, from ancient Roman invocations to Byzantine mosaics. In early Christian art, it signifies divine favor, a visual echo of God's grace made manifest. Consider, then, the motif's journey: its adoption by rulers and saints alike to legitimize power or signal piety. We see this hand, laden with meaning, resurface in countless iterations – a silent yet potent communicator of authority and benevolence. It is an emblem, if you will, of mankind's timeless search for connection to the divine. This symbolic language is far from linear; instead, it spirals, evolving yet eternally returning to primal human longings.