© Motherhood

This mixed-media work presents a tender scene of motherhood rendered in loose, gestural forms characteristic of Claerhout’s compassionate approach. The composition depicts a mother and child in intimate proximity, their figures suggested through simplified, expressive lines and layered colour. Working across a pale ground with touches of blue and earth tones, the artist has captured the vulnerability and connection between the two figures. Claerhout’s practice encompassed diverse media and techniques, from oil painting to drawing, always drawn from the human experiences he witnessed in his daily life.