Mother and child cards

Religion

Of course there are many images of the ultimate mother, Mary and the child Jesus. These are suitable as a Christmas card, but also for encouragement. There is a lot of variety, so there is always something that is suitable. To start with an older image, from the Middle Ages from Geertgen tot Sint Jans, this one is entitled 'the glorification of Mary'. A striking detail in this painting is the light, it seems heavenly.

Another painting, by Fra filippo Lippi, of the virgin with her son, but also other children dates from about the same period. A very classic painting, whose colors are very beautiful and soft, is also from the Middle Ages, by Bramantino. Besides Mary with the child, Joseph is also sideways on it. The sky blue dress in which Maria is dressed is perhaps one of the most beautiful details. Also from around the year 1500 is a painting by Camilla Zeguers, in the manner that belongs to that time period. Rafael Sanzio has also made several paintings of this scene, which are worth viewing.

From a slightly later period is a painting by Hendrick Bloemaert, on which a painting with Mary breastfeeding her son. The 'basic' character of this painting and especially the maternalness it radiates, is its strength.

A painting dating from a much later period, from the 19-20th century, is by Pavel Filonov, here too the whole family of the Holy Family can be seen. Here the figures seem to have masks. The predominant color is red and the baby is naked, unlike many other images.

Animals

Yes, of course there is. The bond between mother and child is also reflected in the animals. Ron Entius has made an image of a small polar bear, leaning against a larger polar bear, his mother. However, this is partly visible, the young takes center stage.

A very nice image of a tiger with cub, it is by Michel Denis-Hulot, 'the children of the African Savannah'. The young is hardly recognizable at first glance, because the colors match each other. Mother and child look in the same direction. The tiger print, which is always beautiful, shows the beauty of the tiger.

Then another very touching card with a Penguin with cub, the mother puts something in the mouth of her cub with her beak. This underlines the bond between mother and child extremely well. There is also a funny picture of Ring-tailed Lemurs.

From old to new

Over the centuries, the bond between mother and child, but also the family around it, has been depicted in the most diverse ways. So let's take a closer look at it. Our own Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn has made a sketch of a mother who places her child on a table, on its feet, as if it has to learn to stand.

A very classic and endearing scene has been painted by Evert Pieters, a mother is sitting with her child in a rocking chair on the left, the crib is on the right. Another very old and classic painting that conveys this theme is by Sir L. Alma-Tadema of a 17th century nursery. The mother is not completely visible, she is lying in the box bed, two women are present, one of them has the baby in her arm.

In the painting by H.J. Haverman, it is about a mother with a slightly larger child, on her lap, a girl, as if she wanted to tell or read something to her. H. Kameringh-Onnes shows a boy in a high chair, who is fed by his mother.

There is also a card with a school poster of a mother with her two children, who gives them fruit. The toys in the background complete the picture. What is also a classic image is a mother with children, with Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet visiting. You can guess around which annual holiday you can send it.

Cornelis Jetses should also not be missing when it comes to classic images, this card is about the whole family, 'the four of us'. So the title is very clear. Another card of an entire family is by artist Isaac Israëls, on a wooden bench outside, it is striking that the family is dressed in classy clothes and probably one or two nannies.

For those looking for a christening card, the image of a mother with a child in her christening dress, in Lausanne, leaves nothing to be desired for clarity.

A very special image is the card with an image of a mother and child, a duality, a real symbolic image for motherhood. Kees van Dongen also has a contribution, a sketch of a mother feeding her child.

Some more international pictures, such as that of an Indian mother with the child tied on her back, then another sketch with an Indian mother with several children. Also a beautiful drawing of a living room in India, with a hammock for the baby.

Then there are even more modern images of mother and child, painted and photographed. A photo is very clear, a baby is suckling from the breast, more of the mother is not visible. Another picture in black and white shows a baby sleeping over its mother's shoulder. This body part is therefore the only thing that can be seen. The picture is very clear and endearing.

Finally, a card in modern colors by Henry Heerup, a very modern representation of mother and child. How this can be interpreted is up to everyone to decide for themselves. In any case, there is plenty of choice.