70 Comments

Thank you for this beautiful story. It has reminded me of something so essential—that the power of love, in art surpasses technical skill; when called upon in our work it manifests a power, a mystery, that transcends the analytical mind and transforms us. This is the unique gift of the woman as artist, because her depth of emotion connects her body to love in an alchemical and biological manner.

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Mary Husted… the plight of many women, this envelope of love and yearning shown in the art and separation is heartening.

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What a story, thanks Katy

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Wonderfully written, well done Katy

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How many young mothers have been in this terrible predicament but did not have ( or thought they did not) have the skill to draw their baby with so much skill and tenderness. My father was an illegitimate child, fostered out. My grandmother would have yearned to have such a beautiful keepsake of her baby.

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I can imagine the horrible heartbreak after those ten days, and what strength it must have taken for her to "start her family" in the years after. I'm so glad they were reunited, and through her art--how beautiful. Thanks for sharing this.

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This is an amazing story, thanks for writing it down

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How utterly moving. Thanks for sharing.

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So moving and tender - in tears reading this!

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what a beautiful story

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Beautiful, powerful and incredibly moving. Thank you for sharing.

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Thanks for this. As an adoptive mother, I drew my son as he slept for 3 months. Love in drawing is so tangible.

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Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story, Katy. If all art came from such a core of love we can only imagine the wonders that might ensue. Those were very harsh times for young women with unplanned pregnancies. So happy Mary Husted's beloved son found her. Amazing story!

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This is so heartbreakingly beautiful. What delicately drawn pictures. Its very hard to draw babies and children. Clearly a talented artist and a bitter sweet story. Beautiful and sad in equal measures.

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What joy that Luke found Mary decades later. Love. It is eternal.

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Thank you Katy for a beautiful tender read, I'm so happy that Mary and her son reunited and now have a daily relationship.

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