The Virgin and Child
1520
unspecified
From the collection of Rijksmuseum
1520
unspecified
From the collection of Rijksmuseum
A woman holds a baby who leans up to kiss her cheek. Both wear simple halos. The background is flat gold leaf. This painting was made when artists still worked for churches, not collectors. The gold leaf shows light without shadows—no depth, just holy glow. The kiss feels real, though: a mother and child moment, not a saintly pose. To see more paintings like this, visit the Rijksmuseum.
