Virgin and Child Trampling Sin
1644
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1644
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a woman holding a baby while stepping on a writhing figure beneath her feet. She’s dressed in flowing robes, her head covered, and the baby reaches toward her. The background has a tree and a cross, with rough, textured lines everywhere. The woman is likely meant to be the Virgin Mary, and the figure underfoot is Sin. The artist used shading and sharp lines to make the scene dramatic and full of movement. If you like this, look up etching to see how artists create prints like this.
