Heilige Familie onder de kersenboom

Mary sits on the ground cradling the infant Jesus, who holds a cluster of cherries, while Joseph leans over a massive, gnarled tree trunk to observe them. A small ceramic bowl filled with cherries sits in the foreground near Mary’s feet. The print is notable for its intricate linework, particularly in the deep textures of the tree bark and the heavy folds of the drapery.

Hendrick Goltzius was the leading figure of the Haarlem Mannerists, a circle whose pursuit of technical perfection was often linked to the 'miracle of art' and the observation of nature as a divine script. The cherry in this context serves as a traditional symbol of the 'fruit of paradise' and the sweetness of the soul, themes central to late Renaissance devotional and philosophical thought.