Woman and Child in Garden 

Max Liebermann created this etching, "Woman and Child in Garden," capturing a serene domestic scene. Note the dominant motif of the garden itself – a symbol deeply rooted in cultural memory. The garden, historically, represents paradise, a space of innocence and nurturing. From the Garden of Eden to the enclosed medieval hortus conclusus, it embodies ideas of refuge and growth. In Liebermann's etching, this is echoed by the presence of a woman and child, suggesting themes of motherhood and new beginnings. Consider how the motif of the enclosed garden reappears across centuries, evolving from a sacred, protected space to a more secular, domestic setting. Think of Fra Angelico's depictions of the Virgin Mary in a walled garden, or even later, Impressionist renderings of bourgeois life in suburban gardens. Each carries a sense of longing for harmony, a nostalgic echo of a lost paradise, engaging our subconscious desire for peace and security.