Artwork
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child is a photography by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1697 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1697 by the artist known as 885_person, this work titled Virgin and Child is an image held in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition presents a seated woman cradling an infant, rendered against a deep, unlit background that isolates the figures and emphasizes their interaction.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures represent the traditional Christian motif of the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus. The woman's serene expression and the child's relaxed pose convey a sense of maternal tenderness and divine intimacy, inviting contemplation of the sacred bond between mother and child.
Technique & Style
The image employs chiaroscuro, a dramatic contrast of light and shadow that illuminates the faces and hands while the surrounding darkness recedes. This handling of illumination creates a three‑dimensional effect and draws the viewer’s focus to the emotional exchange between the two figures.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the late seventeenth century, the piece has remained within institutional holdings, currently displayed at the Museum of Ethnography. The museum’s acquisition records indicate that the work entered the collection as part of a broader effort to represent religious imagery from the period.
Artist & collection
