Madonna and Child 

Ivan Mestrovic created this drawing of the Madonna and Child using conté crayon on paper. The composition evokes the long tradition of Christian art, but also resonates with Mestrovic's own cultural background. Mestrovic was from Croatia, and studied in Vienna at a time of growing nationalism in the Balkans. His art sought to define a distinctly Croatian, and more broadly Southern Slavic, identity. Mestrovic saw himself as reviving a "primitive" and authentic cultural tradition. In his religious works he aimed to distance himself from the dominant influence of the Catholic Church and its institutions. The image is stripped back to its bare essentials. There is a powerful sense of emotional connection, but also a focus on the humanity of Mary and Jesus. The historian looks at archival sources, exhibition reviews, and cultural histories to understand the artist's aims and place in society. The meaning of art is never fixed; it always depends on its context.