Mother and Child 1835 - 1903

Lorenz Frølich etched "Mother and Child," presenting us with a scene framed within a circle and crowned by an angel. The mother, absorbed in her task with a basket, and the child, an innocent bystander, evoke an aura of domestic tranquility. Above, the angel with outstretched wings, bears a lineage stretching back to antiquity. Consider, for example, the winged figures in ancient Mesopotamian art, symbols of divine protection. This motif resurfaces in early Christian art, evolving into the familiar form of the guardian angel. Note how the maternal scene below is observed and sanctified by the angelic presence, transforming a simple genre scene into something more profound. The cyclical nature of symbols is on full display here, echoing through time. It is a visual reminder of how images carry collective memories and subconscious associations that continue to resonate across centuries.