First Discord (Cain and Abel) Adolphe William Bouguereau (1825-1905)

This painting, titled First Discord (Cain and Abel) by Wilhelm von Kaulbach, depicts a pastoral scene with a mother figure holding two young children. The woman, with her light blonde hair and serene expression, is partially unclothed and cradles one child, with curly blonde hair, in her arms. This child is nestled close, seemingly asleep or comforted.
Standing beside her is another child, with darker, curly hair, who looks directly at the viewer with a troubled or questioning expression, one arm protectively held across his chest. The children are naked, as is the upper portion of the mother. They are seated on a rocky ledge amidst lush greenery, with trees and a distant landscape visible in the background under a soft sky. The overall composition evokes a sense of tenderness and maternal care.
However, the title First Discord and the distinct gaze and posture of the second child hint at a deeper, often interpreted spiritual or allegorical subtext. While the scene appears idyllic, the title alludes to the biblical story of Cain and Abel, the first brothers who committed fratricide. The painting can be seen as a symbolic portrayal of the inherent conflict and potential for discord that can arise even within familial bonds, perhaps representing humanitys first fall from grace or the introduction of envy and violence into the world. The contrast between the two children, one appearing peacefully embraced and the other exhibiting a somber, perhaps even jealous or resentful, mien, could symbolize these opposing forces. The mother, in her innocence, becomes a representation of a pre-discordant state, unaware of the dark future her sons embody.