Madame Roulin and Her Baby 1888

This is Van Gogh’s "Madame Roulin and Her Baby," painted with oil on canvas. Immediately, one is struck by the Madonna-like image: a mother holding her child, imbued with a sense of warmth and protection. The pose echoes centuries of Christian iconography, where the Virgin Mary cradles the infant Jesus. We see echoes of earlier depictions, yet the yellow background and the expressive brushstrokes reveal Van Gogh's unique vision. The child's white bonnet reminds us of the innocence associated with purity, a common trope in Renaissance paintings. Yet, here, it's charged with a modern psychological intensity. The motif of the mother and child, repeated throughout art history, becomes a vessel for exploring universal emotions. Van Gogh taps into this collective memory, offering us a glimpse into the deeply human experience of maternal love. The cycle continues, as the symbol evolves through time, its emotional power undiminished.