Portrait of a Mother and Her Son (Probably Jane, Duchess of Gordon, and her Son George, First Marquess of Huntley) c. 1778

Editor: So, here we have George Romney's "Portrait of a Mother and Her Son," thought to be Jane, Duchess of Gordon, and her son George, dating back to around 1778. It’s an ink drawing on paper. What strikes me is the stark contrast in the treatment of the figures. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, this image, with its tentative attribution, offers a window into 18th-century constructions of motherhood and class. Note the mother’s composed, almost detached gaze, contrasted with the son's more vulnerable, searching expression. This divergence invites us to consider the power dynamics at play. Is it possible this work depicts a mother passing on societal expectations of race and gender to her child, continuing the oppressive legacy of colonialism through private familial gestures? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn’t thought of it in that way. It is true that she almost looks distant and unemotional. So the way Romney portrayed them reinforces the norms of their time? Curator: Precisely. We have to question whose narrative is being privileged here. As an activist, I look to dismantle conventional viewpoints, asking whose voices are marginalized and to reveal social injustice. And beyond that, we must acknowledge this may depict trauma. Editor: It sounds like you are looking past face value? Curator: Exactly. In my view, a work of art is more than its surface. Let's learn from history in order to prevent injustice going forward. Thank you so much for your willingness to analyze social implications from art; your viewpoint makes an important contribution! Editor: Thank you; that gives me a lot to think about. I'm definitely seeing it with new eyes.