Maternité 1900

Henri Lebasque created this pastel drawing, titled "Maternité," capturing a tender domestic scene. Lebasque painted during a period when social norms increasingly idealized motherhood as a woman's primary role, influencing artistic representations of women. The artwork depicts a mother breastfeeding her baby, while an older child sits nearby, quietly observing. Lebasque's intimate portrayal challenges conventional depictions of women, often seen either as madonnas or femmes fatales. Instead, he focuses on the quiet, everyday moments of maternal care. The soft pastel colors and gentle lines emphasize the emotional connection between mother and child. "Maternité" invites us to consider the lived experience of motherhood and how such experiences shape women's identities and their places within the family structure. It’s a sensitive portrayal of the personal and emotional dimensions of motherhood.