Mother Love 1888

Paul Peel’s painting *Mother Love*, now hanging in the National Gallery of Canada, offers a glimpse into domestic life. This intimate scene, painted during a period of significant social change, invites us to consider the role of women and the construction of motherhood in the late 19th century. The woman depicted here, barefoot and surrounded by kittens, exudes a gentle warmth as she gazes lovingly at a baby in a cot. The painting delicately balances naturalism with sentimentality, creating a sense of idyllic domesticity. Yet, it also raises questions about the realities of women's lives, caught between the idealized image of motherhood and the day-to-day demands of domestic labour. The serene depiction of motherhood and childhood invites us to reflect on the complexities of care, and how the intimate moments of familial connection can mirror broader societal values and expectations.