Lullaby c. 1890

Editor: This charcoal drawing, "Lullaby," by Maude Alice Cowles, dates from around 1890. It’s such a tender scene—a mother holding her baby, bathed in soft light. I find it incredibly peaceful, almost dreamlike. What does this piece evoke for you? Curator: It takes me straight back to a lullaby my grandmother used to sing – the feeling of safety, the warmth of being loved. Cowles captures that feeling beautifully, doesn't she? The softness of the charcoal contributes so much to that gentle, dreamy quality. Notice how the light falls—almost like a stage spotlight—drawing our eye directly to the intimate connection between mother and child. But it is also so calculated as she contrasts the organic human shape against the geometry of the window… what is your reading here? Editor: That contrast does strike me – this very intimate scene juxtaposed with a more formal composition. Is that a common thread in art from this time? Curator: It's definitely part of a broader trend toward domestic scenes rendered with both emotional depth and considered artistry – this interest in intimism. You also see this impulse within symbolism. And in this work there's also the very definite interest in light, typical of impressionism. It almost feels like Cowles sought to bring together a convergence of themes through something so elemental and commonplace as maternal love. Do you agree? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way, but seeing how those elements combine makes me appreciate the artwork more deeply. It’s far from a simple depiction. Curator: Exactly! And isn't it amazing how a simple drawing can hold so much?