Mombasa, 2004, on Pirates Beach Possibly 2004 - 2014

Leo Rubinfien captured this image on Pirates Beach, Mombasa, in 2004. The photograph depicts a mother carrying her child on her back. The child’s gaze, directed out and slightly upward, is central to the image. This motif of a child carried on a parent’s back echoes through history, appearing in ancient Egyptian art and resurfacing in Renaissance paintings of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child. It evokes universal themes of protection, burden, and the future carried by the next generation. In this photograph, the child’s expression is particularly poignant; we see a mix of trust and apprehension. This composition has appeared across cultures and centuries, always imbued with deep emotional weight. We see the non-linear, cyclical progression of a symbol that has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts. The black and white medium lends a timeless quality, emphasizing the enduring nature of human relationships and our shared experiences.