Nursing Bottle c. 1937

Florence Stevenson, born in 1855, rendered this drawing of a "Nursing Bottle," using graphite on paper. Stevenson’s work encourages us to consider the material culture of motherhood at the turn of the century. During this period, the increasing industrialization of baby food production intersects with cultural anxieties around motherhood. These bottles, designed for ease and hygiene, reflect a shift towards scientific approaches to infant feeding, yet also embody tensions between convenience and the intimate act of nursing. Consider the visual language Stevenson employs, meticulously detailing the bottle's form and texture. The bottle, rendered with care, becomes a lens through which we might examine evolving ideas about women's roles, domesticity, and the changing landscape of childcare. By focusing on this everyday object, Stevenson invites us to reflect on the personal and societal meanings embedded in the tools that shape our earliest experiences.