The Blind Grandmother c. 19th century

Editor: This engraving, "The Blind Grandmother" by Wilhelm Oswald Ufer, depicts a poignant scene. The grandmother, her hands pressed against the tiled stove, evokes a feeling of quiet resignation. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The stove itself carries weight – a hearth, a source of warmth and sustenance, but also a barrier. Consider the image of the dog—symbolizing faithfulness—lying at her feet, a common motif. But what does the title, with its "O du liebes Oefchen!" suggest to you? Editor: Perhaps the dog is the "dear little oven", a comfort to her in her blindness? I see now that the symbols here aren't just aesthetic but hold intimate cultural meaning. Curator: Precisely. The image and text together evoke a world of familial connection and sensory loss. The cultural memory embedded here is powerful.