Cradle c. 1939

Pearl Davis, born in 1855, created this watercolour on paper entitled 'Cradle'. It presents the domestic sphere in a way that invites us to consider questions around gender, labour, and the politics of representation. The image of the cradle embodies a very traditional kind of domesticity. The cradle as an object connects with the traditional role of women and expectations around motherhood in nineteenth-century America, the country and time in which Pearl Davis was born. During that time, American society was highly structured by class and gender roles, and art institutions often reflected these norms. But Davis's work also challenges these structures by drawing attention to the beauty of everyday life and the importance of women's experiences. To understand the full significance of Davis's work, we can look to historical archives, women's studies, and cultural studies. These resources help us to situate art within its broader social and institutional context.