Susan McAndrew c. 1895

Editor: This is Gertrude Kasebier's photograph, "Susan McAndrew," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. There's a tender quality to the image, the way the mother is gazing at the child. What symbols of motherhood do you see reflected in this work? Curator: Notice how Kasebier uses soft focus, reminiscent of paintings of the Madonna and Child. The mother's downward gaze and protective embrace evoke a timeless image of nurturing. This composition is rooted in a cultural memory of maternal love, repeated across centuries of art. Editor: So the symbolic language of the Renaissance is being echoed here through photography? Curator: Precisely. Kasebier draws on that well of symbolism, updating it for a modern audience. This photo becomes more than a portrait; it taps into universal feelings about motherhood, using recognizable visual cues. What feelings does the imagery bring to you? Editor: It's fascinating how she connects the modern world with historical archetypes. It gives the photo a deeper resonance.