“Mother and Daughter” is a watercolor on paper artwork created in 1903 by Swedish artist Carl Larsson. The painting is associated with the Art Nouveau movement, also known as Modern Style, and is a genre painting, depicting a scene from everyday life.
The artwork portrays an intimate and quiet moment between a mother and a daughter. The scene is set in a finely detailed interior space, where the simplicity and elegance of the Art Nouveau style are visible in the design elements of the room. The mother, dressed in a dark gown, stands slightly turned away from the viewer, appearing to be looking at something off canvas, which draws the viewer’s curiosity as to what might have caught her attention. She radiates a sense of stillness and contemplation. The daughter sits to her left on a bench built into the wall, dressed in a blue dress with a pensive demeanor as well, her hands gently folded on her lap. The interaction between the two figures suggests a quiet and reflective atmosphere.
The room’s decor includes a bookcase filled with books, and the intricate patterns of the woodwork add to the painting’s aesthetic appeal. The detailed rendering of textures, from the folds of their garments to the grain of the wood panels and the array of books, demonstrates Larsson’s proficiency with the watercolor medium and his ability to infuse life and interest into domestic settings.
