An Exploration into Motherhood and Identity in Art

Abstract

The objective of this dissertation is to examine the ways in which motherhood is represented throughout art history and how this informs our understanding of the impact maternal obligations have on women and their identities. This writing aims to explore how evolving attitudes towards the topic of motherhood have allowed for more authentic representations to be observed in contemporary art. It also intends to provide a framework for a better understanding of the struggles faced by women trying to reconcile their identity after becoming a mother, and how, through art, they can express historically taboo subjects. Chapter one details the historical context for attitudes towards motherhood in art and the impact it had on how women created art about their experiences. Chapters two and three go on to look at more contemporary art made in this subject, exploring how, with more modern attitudes towards women and motherhood, art that is more representative of the experience of motherhood is able to be expressed.