Mother and Child
1738
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1738
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Mother and Child is a 1738 by Benjamin West, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This drawing shows a mother holding a child close. The lines are rough and uneven, with lots of shading that makes the figures look soft but also a little blurry. The mother’s face is mostly dark, while the child’s head is lighter, almost glowing against her. The artist used quick, sketchy strokes instead of smooth lines, giving it a raw, unfinished feel. This style was common in the Baroque period, where emotion and movement mattered more than perfect details. Check out the Baroque movement to see how this fits into the bigger picture.
