Moeder en kind 1860

Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter created this print titled ‘Mother and Child.’ The imagery of motherhood has historically been a powerful symbol, often idealized and laden with cultural expectations. During the 1800’s motherhood was viewed as a woman's primary role and source of identity. Sluyter’s lithograph complicates this view. The serene Madonna-like figure directs her gaze upwards and away from her child. She seems lost in thought. The lithograph raises questions about the diverse experiences of women, pushing against the reduction of their identities to solely maternal roles. Is Sluyter suggesting the internal lives of women extend beyond their role as mothers? Are we witnessing the emotional landscape of a woman who is both a caregiver and an individual with her own aspirations and reflections? The artwork challenges the viewer to consider the multifaceted nature of female identity, acknowledging the personal and emotional dimensions of motherhood.