Chinese Mother and Child 1908

Editor: This is "Chinese Mother and Child" by Bertha Boynton Lum, housed here at Harvard. The print feels so intimate. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Note the composition. The artist used a circular format to confine the subjects, focusing attention on their relationship. How does the color palette contribute to the work's overall effect? Editor: It’s warm and inviting, almost like a memory. Is it just the colors, or are there other visual elements at play? Curator: Consider the artist's use of line. The strong outlines define the forms, while the delicate patterns add visual interest. What do you make of the interplay between these elements? Editor: I see how the lines give structure while the patterns soften the image. Thank you, I never would have noticed those details on my own.