The wounded maternity in the fine arts

Abstract

The historian Fielding Garrison wrote that the history of medicine is the history of mankind, as it encompasses all of human life. This means that the history of medicine encourages us to critically reflect not only on the information (the what, the world of facts) but also invites us to move towards understanding (the who, the world of stories). Next to the historical change, there is the anthropological duration with its baggage of immutable values that art brings to light. The merit of art is to focus not only on the biological aspects, but also on the social and emotional ones that define the mother/child relationship. The paintings that we have analyzed “speak” of care and caregiving, grief and suffering where maternity is experienced in solitude, in misery, in sickness. And it is to this latter aspect that we have drawn our attention. Most of the works are autobiographical or relate to events actually experienced by the artist. The theme of the wounded maternity has many facets, but all are united by the absence and loss of something precious: a son, a husband, health, affection.

Keywords:

• Art
• history of medicine
• maternity
• suffering

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.