Throughout the history of art, mothers and motherhood
 have been popular subjects for artists, most of whom were 
men. A new photography exhibition, “Home Truths: Photography and Motherhood,” curated by Susan 
Bright, was first shown at The Photographers’ Gallery in
 London and is now on view at the Museum of Contemporary 
Photography in Chicago. “Home Truths” strives to present a more nuanced
 and modern view of motherhood through images and video
 made by nine women photographers. Ana Casas Broda,
 Elina Brotherus, Elinor Carucci, Ann Fessler, Tierney
 Gearon, Katie Murray, and other artists in the show have 
explored their roles as both mothers and daughters through long-term projects. Much of the work is autobiographical.
 The images of kids and mothers are unsentimental 
and unidealized, yet emotional, capturing not only the 
devotion, frustration and exhaustion of motherhood, but
 also exploring issues of female identity. A companion
 book by the same name incorporates more images and the work of more 
photographers, as well as essays that discuss the history
 of depictions of motherhood and the presentation of the
 mother-child relationship from the perspective of fathers.

“Home Truths: Photography and Motherhood” is currently on view through July 13, 2014 at the Museum of Contemporary
 Photography 
at Columbia College in Chicago.