A poignant expressionist work by Lasar Segall, depicting the raw grief of a child beside a deceased mother through heavy, textured brushwork.

Mãe Morta, painted by Lasar Segall in 1925, captures a moment of profound grief through a raw, expressionistic lens. The composition focuses on the physical proximity between a deceased mother and her mourning child. Segall employs a palette dominated by earthy, muted tones, which reinforces the somber nature of the subject matter. The brushwork is heavy and textured, conveying a sense of tactile weight and emotional turbulence. Born in Vilnius, Segall moved to Brazil, where his work became a bridge between European modernism and the social realities of his adopted home. This piece reflects his interest in human suffering and the universal experience of loss. The figures are rendered with distorted proportions, a common technique in his practice to externalise internal states of mind. The background remains sparse, ensuring the viewer remains fixed on the interaction between the two figures. The child leans over the mother, their forms merging into a singular, heavy mass of sorrow. Segall avoids sentimentality, opting instead for a stark, honest depiction of mortality. The painting functions as a study of the human condition, stripped of artifice. By focusing on the physical reality of death, he invites an examination of the fragility of life. The work remains a significant example of his ability to translate personal trauma into a visual language that communicates across cultural boundaries. The application of paint is deliberate, with layers building up to create a sense of depth and permanence in the figures. This print preserves the texture of the original oil application, allowing for a close observation of the artist's technique and his approach to form and shadow.