The Virgin and Child
1450
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This black-and-white photo shows a woman holding a small child. She wears a long robe and a head covering, sitting on a simple bench. The child sits sideways in her lap, one arm raised as if reaching out. The woman’s face is calm, and the child’s pose feels almost playful. The lighting is soft, making the figures stand out against the dark background. This looks like a photo of a painting—check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
