Madonna and Child c. 19th century

Curator: This is Alphonse Leroy’s “Madonna and Child," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The sepia tones give this piece a dreamlike quality, almost as if it’s emerging from memory. Curator: Indeed. Notice how Leroy subtly blends the sacred and human aspects. The tender gaze, the slight touch, all work toward an archetype of maternal love that still resonates today. Editor: But these images were also used to normalize women’s roles, confined to motherhood. This image, while beautiful, reinforces traditional expectations. Curator: Yet, it also symbolizes strength, resilience, and the divine feminine—cultural pillars for centuries. It’s a symbol of hope in dark times. Editor: I suppose analyzing the layers of meaning, both empowering and restricting, is part of truly seeing. Curator: Exactly. It makes us reconsider the weight of such imagery on the collective psyche.