The Virgin with Child 1346 - 1355

This sculpture of The Virgin with Child was anonymously created with wood. As we consider this sculpture, it is important to remember that anonymous artworks, particularly those depicting religious figures, were often created during historical periods where individual artistic expression was subsumed by collective religious identity. The statue embodies both the divine and human aspects of motherhood, with the Virgin Mary's gentle gaze and tender hold on the Christ Child. Carved in wood, this adds an interesting intersection to how gender is represented in the artwork. As you contemplate "The Virgin with Child," consider the layers of identity—devotion, anonymity, motherhood—and the historical forces that shaped its creation and reception. The Virgin with Child is a meditation on faith, humanity, and the enduring power of art to transcend individual authorship.