Dimensions: image: 772 x 573 mm
Copyright: © Estate of Peter de Francia | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is Peter De Francia's drawing, "Mother and Child." It's part of the Tate collection. The charcoal creates such strong contrasts! What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: Note how the artist models form with hatching and cross-hatching. The tight, controlled lines create a sense of volume, especially in the child's face. What effect does the limited tonal range produce? Editor: I think it emphasizes the somber mood and the close bond. It seems like a very personal statement. Curator: The artist uses line to define contours, focusing on the geometric simplification of forms. Did you notice how the hands and face merge into expressive symbols? Editor: Yes, it makes the drawing feel very modern, yet timeless. I see a new appreciation for the power of line and form. Curator: Indeed, exploring line and form provides new perspectives on understanding the artist's intentions.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/de-francia-mother-and-child-t11824
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Mother and Child is from a group of drawings in Tate Collection (Tate T11821–6) that de Francia produced between the early 1950s and mid 1960s, which demonstrate his interest in representing ordinary people and everyday circumstances. Drawn in charcoal and crayon, Mother and Child shows a young woman, plainly dressed in black, clasping a baby in her arms. Her powerful hands encircle the child’s body. The baby, with a tender gesture, touches the woman’s chin with one hand and appears to reach towards the viewer with the other. The mother’s slightly diverted gaze creates an impression of stoicism.
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