Zogende moeder 1768 - 1796

Pieter de Mare created this etching, "Zogende moeder," sometime in the late 18th century. De Mare lived during a time of shifting social values, where the role of women, particularly mothers, was being scrutinized and idealized. Here, we observe a mother nursing her child in what appears to be a rural setting. What strikes me is how the woman's gaze is focused downwards, towards her child, seemingly shutting out the world. There is a sense of isolation, an encapsulation of the maternal experience. Her exposed breast challenges conventional artistic representations of the time, which often sanitized motherhood. Instead, de Mare presents a raw, unfiltered image, hinting at the physicality and labor inherent in motherhood. De Mare perhaps attempts to unveil a more authentic portrayal, steering away from the sentimental stereotypes often associated with the subject. It leaves us contemplating the complex interplay between societal expectations, personal experience, and the realities of motherhood.