Mother and Child

Mother and Child, 1977, lithograph by R.C. Gorman. This exquisite lithograph portrays the quiet strength and tenderness of Navajo motherhood. A mother kneels in graceful repose, dressed in white, her arms cradling a small child with infinite care. The composition is spare and powerful, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the figures and their emotional connection. Dark background strokes define the intimate space while the cream ground bathes the subjects in luminous quietness. Gorman’s approach to form and his sensitivity to human gesture create a work that transcends specific narrative to speak to universal themes of protection, love, and cultural continuity.