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Mothers in Art


Pieta – Michelangelo

This unique sculpture by Michelangelo, one of the three great figures of Renaissance art, was created when he was still a young sculptor and is one of the most delicate depictions of the holy mother and child. The term "Pieta" refers to the depiction of the Virgin Mary holding the dead Christ in her lap. In this sculpture, currently located in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the sanctity of Mary is especially emphasized. Mary is not depicted as old as she should be; instead, she is shown as a young and beautiful woman. According to Michelangelo, Mary retains her purity and beauty thanks to his greatest miracle. In this way, the young Michelangelo creates an emotional and refined work from a cold block of marble. The artist's youth does not overshadow the success of the work, but it does not restrain his ambition. In this piece, Michelangelo does something for the first time that he would later regret: he signs his name on a work for the first and last time.


Whistler’s Mother – James McNeill Whistler

This iconic work, even appearing in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, is often regarded as the Mona Lisa of the Victorian era. It is said that one day, Whistler’s model became ill and could not come. Consequently, the artist asked his mother to pose. Initially, he had designed the composition with a standing woman, but since his mother could not stand for long, the composition was changed. The resulting portrait, "Whistler’s Mother," depicts a seated woman with her own expression, reflecting the fashion of the era. Created in 1871, the work did not initially gain much attention. However, during the Great Depression, it took on a unifying role for the United States, fostering national consciousness. The serious yet tolerant expression of a mother carrying the weight of years became the nationwide symbol of “Mother” and inspired sculptures. It was even used on postage stamps of the time.


Maman – Louise Bourgeois

Maman is a sculpture of “mother” in the unexpected language of Contemporary Art. Known for her large-scale installations, Bourgeois depicts a massive spider in this sculpture as a tribute to her mother. Her mother was a weaver, much like a spider… Her mother was intelligent, much like a spider… With a height approaching 10 meters and marble eggs, a powerful metaphor of motherhood is created. Bourgeois says that she transforms hatred into love and expresses love in her works, and she conveys her love for her mother through this enormous sculpture. In this way, she immortalizes her protective and caring mother, whom she called her best friend.

Written by: Zeynep Dikmen

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