This oil painting, of a mother with her resting baby on her chest, is looking out into the wide world through the window of the room.
The poise on her look and the baby’s restful face communicate two different messages.
The baby is portrayed like a weaned child, blissfully comfortable and secure in her mother’s arms. The mother keeps the baby safe, secure and warm between her arms, by holding her close to her chest. The baby can feel the rhythmic heart beats of the mother, which is what calms a baby to sleep on the mother’s arms. The baby too reciprocates to this warmth by gently resting her hand on the mother. The mother’s love makes the baby sleep restfully.
The portrayal of this baby is akin to the description of ‘a weaned child resting against his mother' (Psalm 131:2)
In contrast, the extended neck of the mother, eyes wide open looking into the distance with a still and searching face convey another emotion in this painting.
Is the mother waiting for her husband to return at the end of the day! Or does she fear facing him and the abuse at the end of another day when he returns home drunk! Does she carry sorrow in her heart about the way she is treated by her husband’s parents! Is she heavy of heart about losing her only bangle left, that her husband’s family want to mortgage during this festival season! Is she weary of all the ordeals and harassment her girl child would face when she grows up! Is she contemplating to be a single mother as she sees no respite from her daily pain! Is she emotionally broken and losing meaning in life and relationships!
Whatever may be her inner world of realities, the painter invites us to pause with her at her cross road! Women suffer silently and therefore we hear of their woes publicly only occasionally.
When I was studying for the course on family dispute resolution, I realised that girl children and women are disadvantaged in different ways. Many almost feel suffocated, because both at home and at work place, they have too many demands imposed upon them.
Yet they are self giving most of the times, because the usual instinct in them is love, care and goodwill for others!
There are paintings which summarise a reality which men do not want to face!
Whatever else might have been the intent of the painter, I was left with these thoughts when I saw this painting!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
The poise on her look and the baby’s restful face communicate two different messages.
The baby is portrayed like a weaned child, blissfully comfortable and secure in her mother’s arms. The mother keeps the baby safe, secure and warm between her arms, by holding her close to her chest. The baby can feel the rhythmic heart beats of the mother, which is what calms a baby to sleep on the mother’s arms. The baby too reciprocates to this warmth by gently resting her hand on the mother. The mother’s love makes the baby sleep restfully.
The portrayal of this baby is akin to the description of ‘a weaned child resting against his mother' (Psalm 131:2)
In contrast, the extended neck of the mother, eyes wide open looking into the distance with a still and searching face convey another emotion in this painting.
Is the mother waiting for her husband to return at the end of the day! Or does she fear facing him and the abuse at the end of another day when he returns home drunk! Does she carry sorrow in her heart about the way she is treated by her husband’s parents! Is she heavy of heart about losing her only bangle left, that her husband’s family want to mortgage during this festival season! Is she weary of all the ordeals and harassment her girl child would face when she grows up! Is she contemplating to be a single mother as she sees no respite from her daily pain! Is she emotionally broken and losing meaning in life and relationships!
Whatever may be her inner world of realities, the painter invites us to pause with her at her cross road! Women suffer silently and therefore we hear of their woes publicly only occasionally.
When I was studying for the course on family dispute resolution, I realised that girl children and women are disadvantaged in different ways. Many almost feel suffocated, because both at home and at work place, they have too many demands imposed upon them.
Yet they are self giving most of the times, because the usual instinct in them is love, care and goodwill for others!
There are paintings which summarise a reality which men do not want to face!
Whatever else might have been the intent of the painter, I was left with these thoughts when I saw this painting!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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