Formal Analysis Art History

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more complicated the nature of this sculpture is. And it’s seen from remaining paint that various colors were used.

Sculpture 1 depicts a female warrior, a woman, whose duties are not just taking care of her household and watching her kids. We can see some kind of weapon fixed on her left elbow. Also it’s vivid that she belongs to a particular tribe since there is some decoration on her right arm above the elbow and she wears a helmet with an ornament. Probably this ornament has a particular meaning in the culture this woman coming from. These details, the fact that she is almost nude and her African features of the face make me think she belongs to some African tribe. Also a small size of the chair tells us about the minimal amount of household units since the climate is warm and people spend most of their time outside. Sculpture 2 on the opposite shows a more domestic kind of woman, the one who spends more time with her children. She is neatly dressed. She looks European according to her features and warmer clothes. The chair in this case looks more bulky, solid and heavy. This fact also tells us about richer background of the woman, as well as her clothes and accessories, that she is wearing, comparing to a simple look of a warrior woman in Sculpture 1.

The presence of a chair in both sculptures says a lot. These two women as we can see are coming from two completely different backgrounds, cultures, locations, periods of history, but they are both united by a universal instinct of a Mother Nature, maternal instinct. And no matter how much they are busy or not, they will always find a moment to spend with their child. The chair here plays a part of that time-stopper; it shows that for some period of time they will remain still, embracing this intimate moment of being with their babies. That’s why these two sculptures look so eternal and actual till today, because a mother’s love will last forever through centuries.

Nevertheless these two sculptures are so different. By looking at both of them we can say that the two women are holding exactly their babies, not somebody else’s children. There is that universal maternal care in their poses and safety and security in kids’ positions. Maternity is the key idea of both sculptures. In Sculpture 1 it is revealed with courage and strength while in Sculpture 2 it comes out with passion and gentleness. But in both cases it is universal. There is no presence of any male human being here.

In conclusion, I would like to say, that the longer I look at these two pieces of art the more fascinated I get. How can they be so similar and different at the same time? The similarity of material they are made of, their theme “a mother with a child”, sitting positions, their calmness and stillness, - all this brings them so close together. And at the same time the difference of shapes, the style of the artists, completely different looks and settings, brings them apart.

I didn’t expect I would be able to see so much in both Mother and Child and Virgin and Child in Majesty. I am sure there is much more in them to explore and to see. We need to keep looking…