Oil on panel Long term loan 1922 from The New Carlsberg Glyptotek The Virgin Mary and the Christ Child are seen here against a gold background, gold being a symbol of divinity. They occupy a sacred realm beyond concepts such as time and space - a place where no cast shadows exist. Even so, they have clearly delineated contours and forms that convey a convincing sense of volume and texture through subtle transitions between light, semi-shade, and shadow. Bouts' careful study of nature made him a master at painting what seems like a paradox: light-filled shadow.
The reflected light shines through and lights up the shadows; see, for instance, the area around Mary's cheek and chin or the rosary's glass beads where light is playing in the shadow side. Bouts' painting is an excellent example of how medieval symbolic imagery fused with Renaissance ideals striving for the greatest possible verisimilitude. The intimate, everyday-like atmosphere and painstakingly detailed naturalism are typical features of the new Early Netherlandish painting of the time.
