The Meaning Of This Piece of Art?

Question: The Meaning Of This Piece of Art!?

So my teacher wants me to do an art critique on "Reaching For An Apple" by Mary Cassatt 1893!. But I'm having huge trouble with What it means!. Like I 'm guessing the tree of knowledge!. But I'm very confused and not sure at all!. COuld some one help me!?

http://kr!.img!.blog!.yahoo!.com/ybi/1/e9/8a!.!.!.

this is a picture of the art work!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

My personal opinion is that it is about the act of mothering!.
If you'll notice the mother isn't just giving the baby the apple!.
She is encouraging him to pick it himself!.
However he obviously can't climb the tree himself to get an apple!.
So she has picked him up and pulled the branch down just enough to make him work for that apple!.
She is clothed and "worldly"
He is naked and "innocent"

Mary Cassatt is talking about what it means to be a mother!.
She is giving advice on how not to baby your children, but not to leave them to fend for themselves either!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

talk about how the ground doesn't really have to much of a base so you don't know exactly where it isWww@QuestionHome@Com