Onderdeel van Maria met kind 1800 - 1900

Eugène Lacomblé made this small sculpture of Mary and child in the 19th century using plaster or clay. The material has a direct impact on the work's aesthetic. It’s been built up additively, rather than carved. You can see this in the drapery, which falls in simple planes. The features of Mary and Jesus are minimally defined, which gives the sculpture an unfinished quality. This isn't a slick, polished object intended for a wealthy patron, but more likely a model for a larger work, or perhaps an object for personal devotion. Sculptures like this were typically produced by skilled artisans, often working in workshops. The division of labor would allow for efficient production, catering to the demands of a growing middle class seeking affordable religious art. Here, though, the artist seems to be reaching back to older traditions of devotional practice. It reminds us that the value and meaning of art can reside as much in the process of its making, and the social context in which it was created, as in its refined appearance.