Like an umbrella against a storm, Maman shelters this space, looming over us in a protective, yet mysterious way. Spiders first appeared in Bourgeois’s art in the 1940s – half a century before she made this sculpture. “Maman” is the French word for “Mommy.” For the artist, the image of the spider refers to her mother, whom she has described as her closest friend. Though spiders can inspire fear for some people, Bourgeois thought of the spider as caring, helpful and hard-working – the way she remembered her mother.

Meet Maman, a massive sculpture by Louise Bourgeois. For the artist, the spider is a symbol for the cycle of life, among other things. What does it mean for you?