Portraying Pregnancy: From Holbein to Social Media at Foundling Museum

The Foundling Museum in London presents 'Portraying Pregnancy: From Holbein to Social Media', an exhibition running until April 26, 2020, that explores the representation of pregnant women in visual arts from the 15th century to the present. Curated by Karen Hearn, the show features paintings, prints, photographs, objects, and clothing spanning 500 years, examining how social conventions have shaped depictions of pregnancy. The earliest work is a drawing by Hans Holbein II of Cicely Heron, Sir Thomas More's daughter, dated 1526–1527, on loan from the Royal Collection. Other artists include William Hogarth, Jenny Saville, and Chantal Joffe. The exhibition closes with a portrait of Beyoncé by photographer Awol Erizku, which became iconic on social media. The museum's history is tied to the Foundling Hospital, the UK's first charity for abandoned children. In Italy, gynecologist and collector Antonio Martino runs parallel projects, bringing pregnant women to museums like MAXXI Rome, Gallerie d'Italia Milan, and Museo Madre Naples, reversing the concept of bringing art into hospitals.