Mother and Child: Timeless Connections in Midcentury Sculpture

There’s something profoundly comforting about mother and child sculptures that keeps me coming back to them. We spent hours with Henry Moore’s Mother and Child in St. Paul’s Cathedral while our son was in hospital, finding solace in its steady presence. Barbara Hepworth’s 1934 Mother and Child, carved in pink Ancaster stone, is another favourite, depicting the child with outstretched arms nestled protectively in its mother’s lap.

Mother  & Child, Henry Moore (1983) 

Mother & Child, Barbara Hepworth (1934)

For Moore and Hepworth, the "mother and child" theme embodied universal human connections—protection, resilience, and creation—that spoke to both personal and collective experiences, particularly in the challenging post-war years. Hepworth’s perspective as a mother and Moore’s fascination with primal bonds infused their sculptures with an unmatched depth. Their organic, interwoven forms capture the balance of closeness and individuality, reminding us of the strength found in nurturing relationships.

In this spirit, I've added a 1973 Carrera marble sculpture by Ismond Rosen (1924–1966) to our collection. Rosen explained that this piece, with its fused forms, was conceived as “complete in an instant... expressive of human loving, both in its earliest mother/child relationship and in adult love.” For me, this work resonates with the enduring beauty of care and connection, and is available to view in our store or online now.