Italian school; 17th century.

Italian school; XVII century.
"Maternity".
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 41 x 34 cm.
Scene of intimate character that represents the interior of a kitchen where a mother accompanied by her small daughter selects several foods. The Italian genre painting of the XVII century found in the representation of the maternity a way to pay tribute to life itself. Inspired by the eternal bond between Mary and Jesus, artists succeeded in immortalizing the everyday as a reflection of the divine, a reminder that even in the simplest tasks dwells a transcendent beauty.
The influence of the Virgin and Child on genre painting was not limited to form or gesture. It also changed the viewer's perception of the everyday, giving it a new meaning. The mothers depicted in these scenes were no longer anonymous figures; they became silent heroes of daily life, guardians of the family and bearers of a love that resonated with the depth of the eternal.This change was also aesthetic. Light, which in religious paintings marked the divine presence, was used in costumbrista works to emphasize the intimacy and warmth of homes. The humble cloths of the peasant women acquired the same dignity as the Virgin's robes, and the chaos of a domestic environment became a space full of meaning.