maman

Maman is the French word for mother and is commonly used as an affectionate term for one's mother in French-speaking contexts.

In the art world, Maman refers to a monumental sculpture by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois. Created in 1999, the work depicts a large spider and has become one of Bourgeois’s best-known pieces. The spider is often interpreted as a meditation on motherhood, protection, and the complexities of family relationships, aligning with Bourgeois’s broader exploration of memory, trauma, and feminine identity. Several casts of the sculpture exist and are installed in public spaces and major museum collections around the world, where they are exhibited for extended periods or on loan.

Maman has had a significant impact on contemporary sculpture and feminist art discourse. It is frequently discussed in art-historical analyses of Bourgeois’s practice and is recognized for its combination of vulnerability and power, as well as for challenging conventional ideas about beauty and fear in sculpture. The work remains influential for artists and critics and continues to attract attention in gallery and museum settings.