The Prodigal Son in Misery c. 1815

Mary Ann Willson made this watercolor, The Prodigal Son in Misery, sometime in the early 19th century. Willson, along with her companion Miss Brundage, were self-sufficient farmers and artists, living in rural New York. In their time, they were somewhat infamous as they defied the traditional gender roles of the period. Willson's folk art is deeply rooted in her personal experience. The image depicts a Biblical parable and reflects on themes of repentance and redemption. Yet, it exists far outside the traditional artistic representations of the time, and can be seen as an alternative narrative, reflecting Willson’s own lived experience as a woman running a farm. The emotional intensity in Willson's piece is striking. The gaunt figure, with its haunted eyes, evokes feelings of pity. The personal dimension of the piece shapes societal issues around gender and religion through Willson's unique perspective.