In Places of the Fallen

In the works of Martin Benka, the renowned painter of Slovak Modernism, the personification of motherhood is associated with woman as a protector. Several of his paintings feature rural women dressed in folk costumes holding a baby in their arms, with the woman always depicted as a Madonna—a dignified, beautiful, noble guardian of humanity and of its material and spiritual needs, values, and traditions. A similar starting point can be seen in his painting In Places of the Fallen, created in 1946, shortly after the end of World War II. The painting is dominated by a mother who lost her husband, and a child who lost its father to war. The loss is insinuated by the cemetery depicted at the top right. In addition to the maternal and protective contents, the painting also manifests an anti-war and humane message. With this painting, Benka paid tribute and showed compassion and moral support to all those who suffered painful losses during the War.

A selection of works by Benka can be seen at the exhibition held to mark the 130th anniversary of the artist’s birth. The exhibition is on display on the 3rd floor of Bratislava Castle, home of the Slovak National Museum–The Museum of History.

P.S. Motherhood is a beautiful motif depicted in art in so many ways, from the suffering Holy Mother in the Pietà to intimate paintings of Mary Cassatt. Check out a selection of mothers in art here. <3