Feeding Gretchen (bottom) 1993

Curator: This is David Hilliard’s photograph, "Feeding Gretchen (bottom)," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels intimate, voyeuristic almost, like a stolen moment of quiet connection. Curator: Exactly, it's a domestic tableau, focused on the act of feeding, loaded with familiarity. Editor: I'm struck by how the dog, Gretchen, becomes a focal point, a receiver of care within this composition of limbs and shadows. It speaks to the power dynamics inherent in caregiving, the vulnerability of the one being fed. Curator: The hand, offering the morsel, becomes a symbol of generosity and control, playing into our ideas around sustenance and relationships. I think it reminds us of the sacredness of everyday life. Editor: Agreed. Looking closely, it prompts reflections on how even simple acts are steeped in complexity and symbolism, both beautiful and disquieting.