Moeder met kind aan de borst c. 1895

Henri-Gabriel Ibels created this print of a mother breastfeeding her child using lithography. This ancient posture, resonant with the Madonna, transcends mere representation to touch upon the sacredness of life-giving. The image of the nursing mother extends back into antiquity, echoing in Egyptian depictions of Isis nursing Horus, a powerful symbol of rebirth and maternal protection. Consider how the Madonna figure, in its many iterations across Renaissance art, also embodies this divine motherhood, yet infused with Christian theology. What is the link? The act of breastfeeding carries a profound psychological weight. It represents not just physical sustenance but also the primal bond between mother and child. It is a symbol that taps into our collective memory, evoking feelings of comfort, security, and the fundamental interconnectedness of life. These symbols have a life of their own, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.