Recent Work
The Maternal Gaze
About 3 years ago I started painting mothers and infants in watercolor and gouache. The models were family members - photos of my mother, self, daughter, and daughters-in-law gazing in awe at their infants, or at another person while holding them. This powerful gaze is, for me, an icon of Divine love.
It has been said that the Madonna with Child is one of the most frequently painted subjects, historically, in European art. I wonder if it is because we recognize something archetypal in that image - Unconditional love, the Divine Feminine, the extravagant longing of the parent of the Prodigal Son.
Nothing has pulled me beyond myself more forcefully than parenthood. Never have I experienced more powerfully that my life is mostly not within my control. The feeling of tenderness toward my children is so strong that I would gladly inhale their suffering into myself if I could, rather than witness them suffer. It is a visceral, instinctive love, ruled by the body and heart. A fierce, lioness love. A nurturing, mother bear love.
My experience growing up, living in the world, and being a mother tells me that human mothers aren’t always able to provide this iconic Madonna love to their children. We are only human, after all. But the archetype inspires me. The image connects me to Deepest Reality and my deepest self. It is an image of the Divine that I can relate to: smitten with love for each of us beyond our imagining - oceanic, merciful, generous, consoling, tender, compassionate, unfailing.
So I keep painting mothers gazing at their babies, hoping that a little of what I have written here is coming through the images.
Melinda Lee Jackson
2024