Madonna

1934

black-and-white lithograph

12” x 14” plate

Here is a sweet and tender moment between mother and child. This piece is a black-and-white lithograph. Lithography is an old method of printing images or words onto a surface such as paper. Lithography is similar to modern digital printing in that it was a way to produce multiple copies of media. Think of this as a small scale and less technical copy machine. Unlike using a copy machine, this is no simple process. Originally, the image was drawn on a stone with a smooth surface before being processed into a lithograph. This lithograph portrays Elizabeth Moaney, who worked for the family of Ruth Starr Rose, and through her devotion soon became part of the family. The cradle in which the baby is sleeping was given to Elizabeth by the Starr family and can be found at the Water’s Edge Museum.