Sally Morrison and two children, Rockingham, Vermont, 1799 1963

Curator: I find the stoicism of this woodcut print utterly captivating. Editor: Agreed. It’s called "Sally Morrison and two children, Rockingham, Vermont, 1799," and Ann Parker made it. There's a kind of austere beauty to the simplicity of the lines. It almost looks like it was made from some form of oil medium. Curator: The repetition of the oval faces, those wide, unwavering eyes... They’re almost totemic, aren't they? They evoke a sense of protection. Editor: The choice of wood as a medium feels significant too. The rough texture, the way the grain subtly shows through—it lends an earthy quality. These were common materials, nothing fancy. Curator: And that deliberate arch above the figures? It’s a symbol of shelter, a visual promise of safety and continuity. Editor: It’s also interesting to think about the labor involved. Each mark had to be carefully carved out to create the image, which gives a sense of how much care went into the production. Curator: Seeing the figures together, under that arch, I am reminded of other familial representations in cultures across the globe, as this print echoes universal notions of family. Editor: Indeed, and thinking about the material and the making, it is an interesting approach. Curator: A powerful piece. Editor: Absolutely.