From poverty to extravagance, ordinary to pop culture, iconic images from the past 100 years have illustrated the unbreakable bond between mother and child. To celebrate Mother’s Day, photo-sharing website SmugMug asked its photography experts to pick some of the most inspiring of them. Here are ten from the collection.
1
Migrant Mother
Dorothea Lange
This photo of Florence Owens Thompson and her three young children in California was taken in 1936. Amid the Great Depression, the photo shows the struggles American families endured during that time.Source: SmugMug
2
Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli official website
Judy Garland, known for her starring role as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, poses with her daughter, Liza Minnelli. The photo of the Hollywood pair was taken in 1946.Source: SmugMug
3
Jackie Kennedy reading to Caroline
LIFE Magazine
Before her husband passed, Jackie and her family would spend summers at their home in Hyannis Port, Mass. This photo was taken in 1960 when Caroline was 2-years-old.Source: SmugMug
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4
Frank Zappa and his parents
TIME Magazine
In a famous shoot for TIME Magazine in 1970, Frank Zappa reveals a softer side than his rock star persona. The lead singer of the band “The Mothers of Invention,” took a photo with his proclaimed religious parents at his home in LA along with his cat and infamous mustache.Source: SmugMug
5
Princess Diana with her young sons
Associated Press/John Redman
A little younger than the father we now know him to be, Prince William and his brother Prince Harry sit with their mother on the steps of the Royal Palace in Majorca, Spain. Taken in 1987, the family was on holiday. Princess Diana's legacy continues to live on through her sons' charitable efforts.Source: SmugMug
6
Clair Huxtable
EW.com
The Cosby Show was and is still known as one of the family sitcom hits of the 80s. Clair, arguably the rock of the Huxtable home, was successful at motherhood, her job, and sharing laughs with her family.Source: SmugMug
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7
Demi Moore’s controversial 1991 cover of Vanity Fair
Annie Leibovitz
This photo broke boundaries in the magazine world and started a new photography trend. Though there were critics, there were those that embraced the cover as well. Many have mimicked the shoot, including Cindy Crawford and Jessica Simpson.Source: SmugMug
8
Michael Jordan and his mother
Newz Grid
Michael Jordan embraces his mother after the Chicago Bulls won the 1991 NBA Championship against the Los Angeles Lakers.Source: SmugMug
9
Royal baby’s first photo
Associated Press
Photographers waited outside St. Mary's Hospital in London to get the first shots of Prince George of Cambridge. All four corners of the globe saw the photo of the royal baby within minutes.Source: SmugMug
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10
Mother Teresa
Biography.com
Known as “Mother” or “Mother of Humility,” Mother Theresa dedicated her life to helping the poor. The Albanian nun will forever be remembered for her selfless acts and kindness to those less fortunate. She represents an iconic “mother” to all of mankind.Source: SmugMug
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