Portraying Pregnancy

Until birth control became widely available, women in Britain and Northern Europe often spent most of their adult lives pregnant and/or nursing a young infant (*shudders*). You'd expect, then, to see lots of preggers women in art of a certain age. Only you don't. Historic pictures of pregnancy are surprisingly rare and even modern ones (like that stunning photo of a heavily-pregnant Beyoncé) still cause shock and awe in equal measure. This fascinating exhibition at the Foundling Museum brings together historic and contemporary artworks, some showing pregnancy in all its bountiful glory and others that magicked out the prominent bumps of their wealthy sitters.