Final answer:
Artworks featuring children often signify more than just an individual; they symbolize concepts of care, universality, future generations, and continuing lineages, reflected in the works of Nikolai Zhukov, Toidze, and Mary Cassatt.
Correct option is B) Mother and child
Step-by-step explanation:
When looking at figures that depict a child in various artforms or historical imagery, it is important to interpret the context and symbolism to understand the intended message or representation. For instance, in Nikolai Zhukov's 1947 depiction of a child under the care of a young woman under Stalin's portrait, the artwork reflects not just an individual child but also the universality of orphans and all children of the USSR. Similarly, Toidze's poster, showing Stalin holding a child at arm's length, is rich with symbolic references to the Christian iconography of the Dormition of the , suggesting the nurturing of the future generation under communist ideals and protection.
The Kongo funerary monument of a mother and child figure articulates the theme of lineage and regency, emphasizing status and the continuation of a family line. Mary Cassatt's paintings such as 'The Cup of Tea' and 'Young Mother Sewing' often depicted relationships between mothers and their children, with varied themes ranging from maternal care to the casual intimacy of a child's dependence on their mother. These intricate representations solidify the thematic predominance of the mother and child motif throughout art history.