Vrouw geeft een kind borstvoeding 1918

This image by Armand Rassenfosse depicts a woman breastfeeding her child. The motif of the Madonna Lactans, or nursing Madonna, is a powerful symbol of maternal love, nourishment, and the sacredness of motherhood that has appeared throughout art history. We can trace this motif back to ancient Egyptian depictions of Isis nursing Horus, which then evolved into Christian iconography. The gesture of offering the breast becomes more than just a biological act; it becomes a symbol of divine grace and nurturing. Consider how the vulnerability of the child and the protective stance of the mother engage our deepest emotional responses. It evokes our earliest memories of comfort and security, tapping into a collective unconscious that transcends time and culture. The nursing mother continues to resurface in modern art, evolving beyond its religious origins to encompass broader themes of human connection, intimacy, and the life-giving force of nature. This timeless symbol reminds us of the cyclical nature of life and the enduring power of maternal love.