There seems to be something quite universal about the image of the mother and child. For over 3,000 years, from Ancient Egypt to Europe and beyond, artists from every culture have shown mothers carrying, protecting, and nourishing their children in a variety of cultural contexts.
Though rendered each according to its own cultural standard, the works of art nevertheless convey a shared human experience of maternal nurture and love, which provides the bond that gives us life and, for all of history, has ensured the continuity of our world and cultures.
An Egyptian wall painting, circa 1422 – 1411 B.C., of a mother and child, in the tomb of Menna. (Public Domain)
Where this motif became most popular was certainly medieval Europe. From churches to palaces, devotional icons and altarpieces filled the everyday life of Christians, providing lessons about the Christ Child and his holy mother….