Fotoreproductie van De moeder van de kunstenaar door Antoine Wiertz before 1868

This is a photograph by Edmond Fierlants of Antoine Wiertz's painting of his mother. The artist’s mother sits, posed with her tools of domesticity. Note the elaborate headwear, framing her face. This motif of headwear carries echoes through art history, a distant cousin to the halos encircling sacred figures. This maternal image is reminiscent of a Madonna-like serenity, a timeless archetype. Although far from the divine, the headwear carries a similar echo of reverence, transforming an ordinary woman into an almost iconic representation of motherhood. It reflects a deep psychological impulse to elevate the maternal figure, imbuing it with a sense of sanctity. This elevation connects to our collective memory, where mothers are often the first icons of care, love, and protection, a powerful force that engages viewers at a subconscious level, stirring deep emotional resonances across generations.