How has the image of the Mother and Child been used to address themes of suffering and compassion?

As a subject that has dominated Christian art for over 1500 years, the Madonna and infant Christ stands as an archetype for every mother and child. Mary is at once the sacred mother of God and a human, grief-stricken parent who loses her son. The fundamental humanity of their bond explains the resilience of this motif through time, and its continued interest in a more secular contemporary society.

Here, contemporary artists draw on the Christian tradition of Madonna imagery expressed in historical works. They recast and reinterpret traditional representations of the Mother and Child, to challenge and reassess the enduring power of this familiar icon.