Jesus barnet bades af Maria, Anna og en tjenestepige 1535 - 1566

Editor: So this is "Jesus barnet bades af Maria, Anna og en tjenestepige", a drawing from the Italian Renaissance. It's rendering of a domestic scene, kind of intimate, even if it's a religious subject, but, to me, the really interesting thing is the depiction of the women; they seem to be the center of the action. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, let's consider who is included. This image is all about matrilineal connection; you have the infant Jesus being cared for by his mother Mary, but also by Anna, her mother. It places emphasis on the importance of female lineage within religious narratives that so often prioritize male figures. How do you interpret this emphasis? Editor: I see what you mean. I guess I hadn't thought about Anna's role before, but including her definitely changes the dynamic. Is the maid significant, too? Curator: Absolutely. The servant performing the labor of bathing brings attention to the social dynamics at play, especially in contrast with the divinity ascribed to the central figures. These quiet gestures subtly acknowledges the often-unseen work of women that underpins both the domestic sphere and, metaphorically, even the grand narratives of religious history. Editor: It’s kind of amazing how much this drawing layers together! So the piece pushes beyond the surface narrative to really bring into focus the lives of the women who supported it. Curator: Precisely. This piece helps to emphasize a narrative of shared female experience and work, so easily overlooked in both history and art history, as if greatness sprang from nowhere. I would say that we, as art historians, need to do more to look beyond what is often foregrounded in scholarship and instead emphasize what matters to all.