French-American artist Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) was a prolific feminist artist known for work that explores gender and femininity and draws from her own childhood memories. These themes emerge most notably in her Maman series, a body of sculptural works from the 1990s that repeat the motif of a giant steel spider. The figure of the spider is a reference to the artist’s mother, particularly her strength as an individual and her role as a caretaker. Yet a spider, particularly when encountered at such a looming scale, can also elicit a feeling of horror. The work is thus a pointed commentary on Bourgeois’ history with her mother, a relationship marked with both fear and respect.

Learn more about the series that inspired this pin HERE.