Mater amabilis
1901
oil
From the collection of Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
1901
oil
From the collection of Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Mater amabilis is a 1901 oil by Jakob Smits, a Post-Impressionism work, held at Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
This painting depicts a tender scene of a woman cradling a baby in her arms. The woman is dressed in a red shawl and a black headscarf, while the baby wears a yellow outfit and a blue hat. The background is a simple white wall with a window on the right side, which allows natural light to enter the room. The woman's gentle expression and the way she holds the baby convey a sense of warmth and nurturing. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of quiet intimacy and domesticity. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up the technique.
