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The Element Of Light And Shadow

Decent Essays

This freestanding, subtractive sculpture depicts a young mother comfortably kneeling and cradling her breastfeeding baby. The young mother’s features are very delicate and fair; her gaze falls lovingly upon the infant who gazes back at her. Both figures are unclothed with minimal space between them. The scale is similar to that of a real mother and baby, but perhaps a little bit smaller. The sculpture is carved from a pure white piece of marble without natural flecks of color or coloring additions. The element of light and shadow helps to make the figures appear very realistic. For instance, gradual, minute depressions made in the sculpture are affected by shadow and suggest anatomical structure beneath the figures’ skin. The …show more content…

Indeed, using perfectly white marble reflects the innocence and purity possessed by the mother and baby. This quality is also maintained by the texture; there are no impurities or roughness to be found. In addition to reflecting purity, the smooth texture provides the work with an aura of calming softness that helps to highlight the serenity of the scene. As mentioned in the description, the use of line is also very delicate. The artist might have made them sharp and angular, but instead, he used lines that are curved, gradual, and smooth. This contributes to the loving, gentle quality of the artwork. Another way that the artist has achieved a peaceful scene is by limiting the principle of movement. One can imagine the baby wiggling its toes or the young mother slightly readjusting her position, but that is the extent of the movement suggested. As has been described, the harmonious result of the art elements is a pure, peaceful, and tender scene. As a young girl, I remember going to the Springville Museum of Art on a field trip and seeing this work of art. At first, I was a bit shocked due to the mother’s lack of clothing; however, I noticed that her nakedness was not portrayed in a disrespectful way. Despite being a bit disturbed, I was able to recognize something pure and genuinely sweet about the statue. As I have revisited this artwork, I’ve become less troubled by it and more aware of its tender and even divine

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