Relationship theme

Artist: Duccio di Buoninsegna

Title: "Madonna and Child" 

Date: 1290–1300

Medium: Tempera and gold on wood

Currently: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Source: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/438754

Description: A woman is holding her child. The child is pulling on the woman's garments. There is no landscape background. The two people are the focus point of the painting. 

Analyze: The color in this painting is very bland, a dull gold. He uses contrast between the garments colors; on the child he uses a light red-orange color for the dressing and uses a deep red-maroon on the garment over the clothing. On the woman, he uses a deep navy blue on the outside of the garment, however; on the inside surrounding the face of the woman, it is light in color appearing as yellow or gold. 

Interpret: He uses emphasis by only painting the woman and the child while leaving the background blank sending the viewers eyes straight towards the couple. Leaving no background puts great importance on the woman and child, that nothing else matters. He used dark and light colors together to form contrast so the painting catches the viewers eye faster.  

Judge: This painting shows the relationship between a mother and son. The mother holding her child close to her body and the child grabbing onto his or her mothers clothing, hair, or skin as any child would. The painting allows us to relate to the time this painting was created because we are able to see that the way the people acted back in the 13th is very similar to the way we act today.