The Virgin and Child
1450
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a woman holding a bare-chested baby. She wears a dark blue cloak over a red dress with gold trim, and a simple head covering. The baby reaches up, touching her face. Behind them, a distant landscape has a town, hills, and a lone tree. The woman’s face is calm but serious, while the baby looks curious. The dark background makes their figures stand out sharply. Next, look up *chiaroscuro* to see how light and shadow create drama.
