En moder, der giver sin lille dreng ris 1743 - 1809

This pen and brown ink drawing by Nicolai Abildgaard depicts a mother about to strike her child with a bundle of sticks, a harsh image that is meant to correct, not harm. The raised hand holding the punitive instrument is a frequent motif in art. Think of the avenging angel or the depictions of divine justice throughout art history. Yet, here we find the instrument of discipline in the hands of a mother. The gesture of the raised hand is a complex one. In antiquity, it might signify power or benediction; later, the church adopted it to signify blessing or absolution. In this drawing, the same gesture signifies a mother's intent to correct her child, imbuing the act with a mixture of authority and care. The ambiguity of this gesture is what strikes us. It is a symbol passed down through history, each time subtly altered, and charged with new meaning. In the end, we are left with a potent emotional tableau.