Who painted Mother and Child?

Mother and Child was painted by Unknown in 1850.

Where can I see Mother and Child?

Mother and Child is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Mother and Child

Mother and Child is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1850, the photograph titled “Mother and Child” is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The image captures an intimate domestic scene, focusing on a woman and a young child seated at a wooden table within a modest interior.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a mother feeding her child from a plate, her hand gently guiding the child’s. The child, attentive and dressed in a patterned dress, watches the act of nourishment. The tableau conveys a quiet moment of familial care and everyday routine.

Technique & Style

The work is a black‑and‑white photographic image, employing natural lighting that highlights the textures of the wooden furniture and the soft folds of the subjects’ clothing. The framing includes surrounding details—a teapot, cups, and a framed picture on a yellow wall—that situate the scene within a lived‑in space.

Context

Photographed in the mid‑nineteenth century, the image reflects contemporary interests in documenting ordinary life and domestic customs. Such ethnographic photography was often used to illustrate cultural practices for scholarly audiences.

History & Provenance

The photograph entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings, where it remains accessible to researchers and visitors interested in historical visual records of everyday life.