Pepohoan Women; Mode of Carrying Child; Costume of Baksa Women; Lakoli c. 1868

John Thomson created this photographic print of Pepohoan and Baksa women, along with other figures, sometime in the late 19th century. Note how the photograph on the upper right depicts a mother carrying her child. This universal image of maternal care is rendered in a way that echoes across cultures and epochs. One can see a clear Madonna-like motif. Think of the countless Renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. This pose, laden with tenderness and protection, is hardly unique to Christian art. Echoes appear in ancient Egyptian depictions of Isis with Horus. Such images tap into a powerful, collective memory. This is a primeval bond—the nurturing mother. The emotional weight of this image is significant, engaging our subconscious understanding of protection, love, and the continuation of life. Across time, the essence of this symbol persists, transformed by different cultural narratives, yet still resonating with the primal emotions it has always evoked.