Mother Leaving Home with Suitcase c. 20th century

Editor: This is Harry Sternberg's "Mother Leaving Home with Suitcase." The stark black and white evokes a feeling of displacement and, perhaps, loss. What symbols jump out at you in this image? Curator: The suitcase, a crude collection of blocks, suggests not only physical baggage but emotional burdens. The eye-like shape looming above – is it a cyclops, or perhaps a pregnant belly encapsulating a threatened home? Editor: A pregnant belly, that’s an interesting take! It really brings forward the cultural memory of mothers sacrificing their all. Curator: The image plays with universal archetypes. Consider the cyclical nature: departure, journey, and the hope for eventual return, rendered in stark, unforgettable imagery. Editor: I see it now. There are so many layers, thanks!