The theological possibilities of a Pre-Raphaelite sketch

Burne Jones is famous for his Christmas angels. But this sketch of Mary and the infant Jesus has delicacy of touch and gentleness of line, and softness of tone.

Of course the subject matter has inspired great masterpieces from iconography to Renaissance masters, but I've often been moved more by the preliminary sketch, the idea in outline, which seems to be the more expressive for not being fixed and made permanent in a final work.

This is an idea being born, its incompleteness and preliminary status suggesting a living conception, a paradox of provisionality and finality, because it portrays its subject in definitive lines.

Is there a theological claim, or at least a theological clue, when the incarnation is portrayed in such ambiguity, the sketch that points to the masterpiece, but which stands in its own integrity even if the masterpiece is never attempted. The divine makes do with the human, the eternal inhabits time, spirit is embodied in flesh, and thus God comes to the world as the Creator to the creature, and inhabits the limitations of God's own art. Maybe so, or not. In any case, this is beautiful – and beauty itself points to God.