The Foundling c. 19th century

William B. Closson's print, "The Foundling", presents us with a somber scene of a clergyman holding an abandoned infant, rendered in stark blacks and whites. The image carries echoes of the Madonna and Child, yet inverted with a male figure taking on the role of caretaker. The motif of abandoned children surfaces throughout art history, reflecting societies' anxieties about morality and care. Think of classical depictions of Oedipus as a baby left to die, or the many Renaissance paintings of the Adoration, where the vulnerability of the Christ Child is central. The clergyman’s posture and the child’s limpness evoke complex emotions. This resonates on a subconscious level, tapping into primal fears of abandonment and the need for protection. The recurring presence of the foundling motif reminds us of the cyclical nature of human experience, where themes of abandonment, rescue, and redemption are continuously replayed and reinterpreted across time.