Monday, June 15, 2009

The Light of a Child



My sisters and I visited the Phoenix Art Museum, and I was drawn to this painting. (I forgot to note the artist's name and will credit the painting as soon as possible.)

The image of mother and child is universal. The Madonna and Child is the image I see most frequently in my experience, likely because I recognize the figures, because of my religious background. Though, every culture that you might explore will have this image as a prominent feature in their Art, both Folk Art and High Art.

As I studied this "Mother and Child" painting, I noted that the light of the child is where my eye is drawn. And my mother's heart and mind rest in there. I note this darkness that seems to be hung around the mother. I find it meaningful that where the light emanates seems ambiguous. Does it come from the child? Or the mother? The brightest light is found at the center of the child, but that light blends with the body of the mother and so, to use a not very pretty analogy, it's like a flashlight. The light comes from the flashlight, but the brightest light you see is where you aim the beam, the flashlight itself remains dark. (Yeah, I know that ruins the beauty of the painting. Sorry.) Or perhaps the child is the light and it permeates the mother's body and becomes part of her.

As I study this light of a child, I see the painting transform to fit my experience as a bereaved mother. I envision another painting like this one, hung to the right of the original, with the same mother and the same light. Only in this painting, the child is gone. The light of my child has permeated my body, mind, and soul and though I no longer hold her in my arms, I know that light. I have not forgotten. I still love. I am still a mother.

6 comments:

  1. that is gorgeous. thank you for sharing it, and i can totally relate to it too. it is a really poignant metaphor for our losses. beautiful. xo

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  2. You are absolutely a mother - and the light will always follow you.

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  3. You are wonderful to be able to find some positive way of looking at all this. Thanks so much for the post. Alice

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  4. That painting is so beautiful, yet has a touch of sadness to it. The contrast between the darkness and light really touches me. In my experience with losing my mom, I can put a different "spin" on it. Like my mom is letting me go live my life while she goes elsewhere to live hers, not on this Earth. That's what I love about art. Two people can see it differently, while seeing how the other person sees it. So amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it.
    *HUGS and ICLW*

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  5. This brings tears to my eyes. I could have written the exact same thing. As bereaved mother I know all to well the feelings you described here. Of course you are still a mother. And Caitlin will always be your daughter. Your little light shining forever and ever. (((HUGS)))

    ICLW

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  6. Haunting. The painting and your description of it.

    ICLW

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