Untitled [Woman and Daughter with Makeup]

Carrie Mae Weems, "Untitled [Woman and Daughter with Makeup]," 1990.

This photo is part of Weems’ 1990 Kitchen Table Series depicting the life and relationships of a black woman as centered around her dining table. Weems acts as the model for the central figure in the series, here shown in the context of her role as a mother. The photo is an intimate view of the relationship between mother and daughter as they both engage in acts of beautification, an activity often treated as a rite of womanhood for young girls. The daughter is being taught to use cosmetics and spend time on her physical appearance, just one of the ways in which femininity is learned and expressed in contemporary Western culture. Weems invites us to consider how experiences of femininity might vary based on race and ethnic background and what features might be shared across identities.