Mrs. Daniel Strobel, Jr. (Anna Church Strobel) and Her Son, George 1795 - 1805

Curator: Before us, we see "Mrs. Daniel Strobel, Jr. (Anna Church Strobel) and Her Son, George," a pencil drawing, likely from somewhere between 1795 and 1805, by John Vanderlyn. It now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Ah, what strikes me is how the gentleness of pencil brings forth an era. There's a sweetness that feels fragile. That baby, especially—he's looking out like he’s pondering the mysteries of existence already. Curator: Indeed. Vanderlyn was known for his neoclassically inspired history paintings, but he was also adept at these more intimate portraits. Here we see a reflection of republican motherhood. This wasn't simply a sentimental image but a statement on women's crucial role in shaping virtuous citizens. Editor: I get that. But look at her eyes—so direct, yet a little…weary? Like she knows this whole “virtuous citizen” thing is a bigger job than it looks on paper. Motherhood back then, and now too. I see a deep and subtle intensity of purpose in how the subject, the mother, holds her son so caringly, as if protecting both of them in her embrace. It reflects an unspoken depth within that social construct, wouldn't you say? Curator: Undoubtedly. Consider the setting too, this is no grand interior, further showing this more of a 'slice of life' kind of depiction, meant to ground this mother and child into everyday existence and elevate motherhood as civic duty. Editor: Funny how the simplest materials – just pencil on paper – can tell you the grandest stories. Makes you think about all the untold narratives tucked away in plain sight. There is so much that lies beyond this lovely image if one stares deeply, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Yes, these portrait drawings remind us that history is about public events and the quiet intimacies of daily life, too. It's quite telling, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Beautifully put, a very fitting takeaway!