Maria met kind Possibly 1770 - 1777

This engraving of ‘Maria met kind’ was made by Francesco Bartolozzi, who lived through the Enlightenment and the rise of Neoclassicism. It reflects the period’s interest in portraying motherhood, yet also reveals the constraints placed upon women. The image depicts Mary as a nurturing figure, breastfeeding her child. It speaks to the idealized vision of women as caregivers, devoted entirely to their children. However, by focusing solely on her maternal role, the artwork limits Mary’s identity, overlooking her potential as an individual with diverse capabilities. Moreover, the artwork presents a sentimental view of motherhood that obscures the realities of childbirth, childcare, and infant mortality during that era. We might ask ourselves, does this idealized portrayal empower women, or does it reinforce patriarchal expectations? Does the artwork preserve tradition, or does it offer new ways of seeing?