Bearing a Burden

Mortimer Menpes

1901

Watercolour

Source: Japan, A Record in Colour, facing p. 58

Menpes was fascinated by the children in Japan, and includes a whole chapter on them; he was similarly impressed by night-time scenes. So it is no surprise to find here a tender depiction of a child asleep on the mother's back, as she walks at night almost half-asleep herself. The shaft of light, which just illuminates their faces, is perfect. — Jacqueline Banerjee

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