Study for ‘Cadmus and Harmonia’ 

Editor: This drawing, titled 'Study for Cadmus and Harmonia,' is by Evelyn De Morgan and rendered in pencil. The sinuous snake wrapped around the human figure immediately caught my eye; there’s something both threatening and graceful about it. What story do you think De Morgan is trying to tell here? Curator: Ah, a preliminary dance of destiny, wouldn't you say? For me, this isn't just a study; it's a glimpse into De Morgan's poetic mind. The myth of Cadmus and Harmonia is one of beginnings, transformation, and well...snakes! It’s interesting how the nude figure seems vulnerable yet almost defiant. I wonder, is it about subjugation or a twisted sort of embrace? Perhaps, the drawing captures the intertwined nature of beauty and danger. Notice how the light delicately caresses the form, hinting at a pre-Raphaelite sensuality even within the constraints of pencil. Does the snake feel protective or predatory to you? Editor: Predatory at first glance, but I see what you mean. There is something sensual and…accepting, almost symbiotic, in the way they're posed. Curator: Exactly! De Morgan, she loves these ambiguities. A touch of the macabre, a whisper of romance. It is quite seductive if you think about it. And a reminder that life's beautiful harmonies often arise from rather serpentine chaos. What do you think she aimed to explore through myth in this piece? Editor: I suppose that the tension and beauty that can come from moments of transformation and struggle were central themes. It also seems as if she’s celebrating female strength in mythological and historical tales. I will not be forgetting this any time soon. Curator: Wonderful. Another convert to the power of the pencil and the evocative art of De Morgan! Remember, these sketches often hold the very heartbeat of the artist's grander visions.