Wayside Prayer 1852

Editor: Erskine Nicol’s Wayside Prayer depicts a group gathered outdoors. The earthy tones and the overcast sky give it a somber mood. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: The composition is carefully orchestrated. Note how Nicol uses the figures to create a pyramidal structure, drawing the eye upward. Observe also the interplay of light and shadow, particularly how it defines the texture of the clothing and foliage. Editor: I see that now. The light really does highlight the texture and form. Curator: Indeed. It's through these formal relationships that Nicol constructs meaning. The surface and form themselves become the content. Editor: This close looking has highlighted formal choices I would have otherwise missed. Curator: Precisely, seeing is active.