Mother And Child

Maurice Denis explored the universal bond between mother and child throughout his career, finding the divine in everyday domestic scenes. As a founding member of the Nabis group, he believed art should convey universal values through intimate, often household subjects.

Denis was the group's chief theoretician, famous for his 1890 declaration that a picture is "essentially a flat surface covered with colors assembled in a certain order." This statement anticipated abstract art, though Denis himself was more interested in sacred themes than pure abstraction.

Motherhood fascinated him. He created entire series of paintings and prints devoted to maternal love, seeing it as a reflection of divine grace. This particular work is held at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, representing his ongoing exploration of women and family themes.