Caricia (Caress) 1989

Mariana Yampolsky made this gelatin silver print, Caricia, sometime in the twentieth century. Yampolsky, though born in the United States, was a central figure in Mexican photography. Looking at Caricia, we see a mother holding her child, their faces pressed together in a loving embrace. Yampolsky made a career out of capturing everyday life in rural Mexico, and here she directs her gaze towards motherhood. We see the rich textile of the child's clothing, as well as the long hair of the mother, both standing out against the flat, wooden planks in the background. Her work, however, has not been without critique. Some scholars have pointed out that while Yampolsky dedicated herself to documenting Mexican life, as an outsider she was still separated from her subjects by lines of class and race. Photographs like this one can be better understood through a variety of resources, including historical archives and critical essays. It's crucial to understand the circumstances under which art is made to truly understand its meaning.