The earliest dated work on this subject is the drypoint Gardner Held by His Mother (an impression inscribed "Jan/88" is in the New York Public Library), although she had painted a few earlier works on the theme.
Det tidligste daterede værk med et sådant motiv er koldnålsraderingen Gardner i favnen på sin mor (et tryk dateret "jan/88" befinder sig på New York Public Library), men hun malede også enkelte værker tidligere med lignende motiver.