Charity (Caritas)
2026
Charcoal on Paper
72” x 50” 

In historical Christian art, Charity is traditionally depicted as a mother surrounded by children, often nursing an infant while others cling to her body. As one of the three theological virtues (along with Faith and Hope), she embodies selfless, sacrificial love. 

This drawing reimagines that allegorical figure within a contemporary home. By multiplying both the children and the mother's arms, the composition heightens the demands placed upon her, evoking the familiar feeling of overwhelm and the fear of not being enough. Yet despite the chaos surrounding her, she remains steadfast, her gaze fixed toward the light.

By depicting a contemporary mother as Charity, the highest of the three virtues, the work honors the often-unseen labor of motherhood and the sacrificial love it requires.