Tree and Stump c. 1880

Editor: This is Odilon Redon's "Tree and Stump," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a somber piece, I think, with heavy shadows. What’s your take on this evocative image? Curator: Somber, yes, but also deeply rooted, wouldn't you say? Redon often explored the subconscious, and here, the tree feels like a metaphor for resilience. What does the stump whisper to you? Editor: That’s an interesting way to put it! I was focused on the darkness, the absence. Curator: But isn't absence also a kind of presence? Redon’s use of light and shadow… it's like he's conjuring a dream. Editor: So, maybe it’s not so somber after all, but…reflective. Curator: Exactly! We find beauty in the cycle, in the quiet strength of what remains. It’s a gentle reminder.