© Eva Frankfurther estate

Frankfurther often put family life at the centre of her compositions. 'Couple with Infant' depicts her West Indian friend and Lyons Corner House co-worker, Catherine, together with Jones, the father of her newly-born infant daughter, Helen. The tired mother lies on a brass bed facing the father, who holds the child against his left shoulder with an awkward tenderness. The palette with its pastel yellow, pink and mauve tones depicts the room as a place of warmth and intimacy. The mother and child, dressed in the same colour, are further united. This is one of Frankfurther's most affecting and most accomplished mother-and-child scenes. Catherine, Helen and Jones reappear in the painting 'Family Group' and Catherine is the sitter for a number of compositions, both with another child, Timamai, and by herself.