Mary Cassatt, Maternal Caress, 1890-189, Aquatint and Drypoint Print, Art Institute of Chicago
The month of May is joyous on many levels… threshold of summer, cornucopia of colors… warm showers, sunny skies… personalities brighten… more smiles… more laughter…
For me, the most joyous day in May is Mother’s Day. With it brings joyous and sad moments…my mom left this world far too soon, but she continues with me…and she continues with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I am so very grateful the Lord blessed me with a daughter and son and four grandsons. So Mother’s Day is a day that continues to remind me of my sweet family, a day to joyfully celebrate
Mary Cassatt’s Maternal Caress speaks so beautifully of unconditional love between a mom and her child…
Can you feel the love between mother and child in this expertly crafted print? Both subjects hold each other tightly, embracing in a way that conveys unconditional love, complete trust, and deep affection between the two. Golden warmth emanates from Maternal Caress, certainly because of the feelings reflected in this treasured moment captured by a masterful artist, but also from the sunny hues chosen and the overall brightness of the composition. The glow accentuates the love shared by two people who mean the world to each other.
The child, smiling and content, wraps his arms around his mother as he playfully presses his face against her cheek. The mother, with eyes closed to feel the full effect of this sacred moment, holds her baby confidently, feeling the child’s soft skin against her own and endless maternal love in her heart. The scene conveys cuddling at its best — what young children need to grow up feeling loved, nurtured, protected, and self-assured.
My wish is for everyone to be loved this way as a young child. It would make us feel secure and safe, loved and wanted. It’s what every child deserves, although sadly, not everyone starts life with this protective secu-rity blanket.
Has someone in your life provided you with the priceless gift of feeling wholly protected in the embrace of a nurturer? Who played this role in your life? Whether from a mother, father, stepparent, nanny, guardian, aunt, grandparent, sibling, or other caring individual, the gift of feeling safe in someone’s loving arms can bring us a sense of security as we grow and journey through life’s ups and downs.