William Zuback

Madonna & Child: Interpreted William Zuback

The earliest depiction of the Madonna and Child is said to be found in the Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome. This wall painting shows a seated Madonna suckling her Child, who turns his head to focus on the audience. The pictorial or sculptural representation of Madonna and Child is one of, if not the most, interpreted subject in Christian art; especially in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Thousands of years later, the artistic likeness has evolved into interpretations that remain traditional to the Christian faith as well as depictions that push the boundaries of both the visual and narrative meaning of Madonna and Child. Mother Earth and her many children, the real relationship between mother and son or parent and child and the more traditional depiction, all permeate the artistic interpretations of today?s artist. Christians, Jews, Atheists and many more find reason and comfort in depicting this most iconic of Christian art. To some it may seem sacrilegious but many people can relate to the iconic imagery of Madonna and Child, even in a secular way. In 1997 I created my own photographic interpretation of Madonna and Child; in 2009 I saw an interpretation by artist Travis Reichardt and knew I had to have it to display next to my depiction. This got me thinking about how interesting a Madonna and Child themed exhibition would be. A yearlater, thirty-two artists with thirty-two interpretations, Madonna and Child: Interpreted was born. The beauty of this exhibition is that it represents a wide visual and emotional spectrum of artistic representation and translation of this iconic subject. William Zuback, Curator 2011