Madonna and Children 1897

Jacek Malczewski painted this Madonna and Children using oil on canvas. The paint application is quite deliberate. The way the brushstrokes are handled, thick in some areas and thin in others, suggests a clear sense of material intention. The oil allows for a luminosity and depth that other mediums wouldn't. The colors are rich, but also earthy. The texture of the ragged clothing on the children, and the weave of the green textile on which they are posed, each tells its own story about the conditions of labor in which they are formed. The painting blends traditional religious iconography with a raw, unsentimental look at the plight of working-class children. They are the angels and cherubs surrounding the mother and child. The composition makes a strong statement about the relationship between the sacred and the secular, the ideal and the real. Looking at the image this way helps us see that it is not just about a religious scene, but also about the artist’s commentary on social issues.