Madonna and Child c. 19th century

Curator: This etching, simply titled "Madonna and Child," was created by Jean Bein, who lived from 1789 to 1857. The delicate lines feel so intimate. Editor: I notice the fine, almost fragile nature of the lines. It seems the artist wanted us to notice the physical act of etching and the texture of the paper. Curator: The title connects it to centuries of images of motherhood, but the artist was also likely a woman. How might that influence the depiction of the bond between mother and child? Editor: Perhaps that connection comes through in the etching's materiality. It has a handmade quality. The artist may have been challenging the industrialization of art. Curator: Yes, let’s consider how gendered expectations around motherhood impacted not just the subject but also the means by which this art came into being. Editor: Looking at the whole piece, one can wonder how such accessible materials, with a little technique, carry so much cultural meaning. Curator: Food for thought! Editor: Indeed.