Final answer:
In Pablo Picasso's painting La Vie, the depicted matron holding an infant portrays a sense of strength and power, contrasted with other artistic portrayals of motherhood that often emphasize intimacy and love.
Therefore, the correct answer is: option 3) Strength and power.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Pablo Picasso's painting La Vie, the stern, statuesque matron holding a sleeping infant, with her large feet and the columnar folds of her drapery, endows her with a sense of strength and power.
This interpretation aligns with the formal features of the painting, which leverage complex vantage points and enhance a sense of ambivalence.
The viewer's gaze is level with the luminous eyes of the old woman, suggesting a direct, engaging exchange, while simultaneously looking down on the young mother, which could indicate a position of power.
Moreover, artistic analysis often explores how the composition of the subject matter within the space can convey various emotions and themes.
The use of space throughout Picasso's work, including the crude primitive directness linked to archaic Iberian sculpture, further emphasizes the themes of strength.
The comparison between this portrayal and those found in Morisot's portrayals of motherhood highlights differences in how motherly figures can be depicted in art.
While Morisot's paintings show a sense of intimacy and motherly love using soft expressions and feathery brushstrokes, Picasso's approach in La Vie is distinct and presents the female subject as a more commanding figure.