Her Son c. 1933

Editor: So, this is "Her Son" by Robert Anning Bell, currently at the Tate. The women seem like figures from mythology, set against a very dark background, emphasizing their ethereal quality. What do you make of this tableau? Curator: Considering the late 19th century context, these women likely represent idealized motherhood. Bell's classicizing aesthetic taps into the pre-Raphaelite fascination with myth and the role of women as paragons of virtue. The dark background does highlight their otherworldliness, but do you see a potential tension between this idealized vision and the realities of Victorian motherhood? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the social expectations placed on women at the time, only the more romanticized, aesthetic elements. Curator: Exactly. The painting invites us to reflect on how art both upholds and potentially critiques societal norms, offering a glimpse into the complexities of the period's perception of women.