The Kiss 1906

Bessie Potter Vonnoh made this small bronze sculpture called 'The Kiss', but we don't know exactly when. It's intimate and shows a mother holding her baby. Vonnoh's approach to sculpture, like any art-making, is a process of building up form and meaning. Looking at the surface, you can see the texture of the bronze, almost like thick strokes of paint. The way the light catches on the folds of the mother's dress, and the baby's soft, rounded form, gives it a real sense of warmth. Her hand, gently curved around the child, is so tender. It's a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about the bond between them. Vonnoh made a lot of sculptures of women and children, capturing everyday moments with a gentle eye. She was part of a generation of artists, like Mary Cassatt, who focused on the domestic sphere, finding beauty in the ordinary. Art is always a conversation, and Vonnoh adds her voice to this ongoing exploration of motherhood, love, and human connection, leaving us with more questions than answers, and that's just how it should be.