Mater Dolorosa 

Ivan Meštrović created ‘Mater Dolorosa’ using pencil on paper. The drawing presents an emotionally charged scene, dominated by a cluster of figures enveloped in grief. The composition uses tightly packed forms and sombre monochromatic tones to amplify the overall feeling of sorrow. Meštrović uses line and form to convey the depth of human suffering, reminiscent of classical pietà scenes, yet he imbues it with modern expression. The figures are drawn with a certain angularity and abstraction, reducing them to archetypal forms that represent universal mourning. The dense arrangement suggests a communal aspect of grief, where individual sorrows merge into a collective experience. This representation of a sorrowing mother reflects a broader cultural dialogue about loss and empathy in the face of human suffering. Notice how the absence of color directs our attention to the raw emotion conveyed through the figures’ postures and expressions, illustrating the profound and enduring nature of human pain.