[Paul Nadar at the Breast of His Wet Nurse] 1856

This photograph by Nadar captures his son, Paul, at the breast of his wet nurse. The very act of nursing has been depicted through millennia, from ancient fertility idols to Renaissance Madonnas. Here, we witness the intimate bond, the life-giving nourishment, echoing the iconography of the Virgin Mary. It calls to mind the "Madonna Lactans," where the Virgin nurses the infant Christ. This motif emphasizes Mary's humanity and her role as a nurturing mother. The wet nurse, often a hidden figure in history, becomes the vessel of this powerful symbol. Yet, in this modern depiction, the emotional and spiritual weight has been somewhat displaced. Nadar focuses more on realism, documenting a social practice that was common amongst the bourgeoisie. Still, the primal scene resonates, engaging our collective memory of maternal care, reminding us of the enduring power of such imagery.