Ph.D. (Art History) / By applying Panofsky's method of iconological analysis to Maggie Laubser's interpretation of motifs I could ascertain the following: * Christian Science played a decisive role in the development of her symbolic language; * the great mother archetype, as defined by Erich Neumann, features dominantly in her art; 'k Laubser's use of light is not purely painterly, but has symbolical and mythical implications; * the scenes depicting harvesting at the Cape or in the Orange Free State have besides historical also religious and symbolic connotations.Christian Science discerns the threefold character of ·God as the Fathe~ as the Son and as; the Mother. In analyzing Laubser's interpretation of the shepherd image, the aged shepherd, who corresponds to Saturn or Father Time, is the father who disposes of life and death. The young shepherd corresponds to the Good Shepherd though he has no physical contact with the sheep in his fold. The motherhood of God is demonstated by using an African woman in the untraditional working situ~tion of herding sheep. By juxtaposing the woman, with a child on her back, and a hut the image of provision which corresponds to the image of God as Mother is procured. Laubser explores the different phases of womanhood which embraces not only motherhood but also the possibility of rebirth through woman as goddess. In portraying the divine union where earth and heaven are united in the hieros gamos, Laubser explores the different implications of light. Her use of light motifs is not restricted to the depiction of either the sun or the moon. Buddha, the Enlightened Being and symbol of radiant light is incorporated instill lives so that the sun is brought within the eonfines of the interior. The ca t , ancanLmaLias socLa ted wi th the moon, later on substitutes the statuette of Buddha in still lives. In this way one can discern between work belonging to a sun period and work belonging to a moon period. Though harvesting signifies the end of a cycle and the reaper is seen as a symbol of death, Laubser uses cloud and child motifs to symbolize regeneration...