The Tombstone of Mary Breakenridge, Bennington, Vermont, 1792 c. 20th century

Curator: Looking at this image, I feel a sense of quiet solemnity, a delicate balance between mourning and remembrance. Editor: Indeed. Here we have what is recorded as "The Tombstone of Mary Breakenridge, Bennington, Vermont, 1792," attributed to Ann Parker. Notice the winged visage and the floral motifs carved onto the stone. Curator: Those details speak to broader shifts. The winged soul motif was a fairly common symbol of the era, reflecting changing attitudes toward death and the afterlife. Editor: Absolutely. And situating this in the context of early American art, particularly folk art traditions, helps us to consider the ways women artisans like Parker contributed to the cultural landscape. What narratives were they shaping? Curator: It's fascinating to consider how such public art shapes our understanding of early American life and how, even in mourning, it presents a curated face to the community. Editor: For me, it also highlights how we memorialize loss, and whose stories are deemed worthy of such enduring representation. Curator: A sober reminder of mortality and memory in the new nation. Editor: A somber work, that pushes us to question how we can honor voices, like that of Mary Breakenridge, that may otherwise have been lost to history.