“By the time he did this portrait, in 1620, he had been painting visibly pregnant women for 25 years, and his style evolved over the years to become more and more naturalistic,” Ms. Hearns said.

Bellyfull.” “Unlight.” “A woman walking not alone.” These are all terms once used to describe pregnancy in the Viking Age, which has been a long-neglected subject in the study of Viking history. Now, ...

a pregnancy-inspired twist on her watercolor and ink series “Flowers with Legs.” Whalen began painting flower women two years ago while working on a shoot for her fashion photography.