Cherub on the Back of a Swan c. 1870 - 1876

Editor: This is William Rimmer's "Cherub on the Back of a Swan." It's a delicate sketch, seemingly unfinished, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is its ephemeral quality, like a fleeting dream. What story do you think it's trying to tell? Curator: Well, considering Rimmer's background and the prevailing artistic climate, it's likely engaging with classical mythology. The cherub and swan evoke ideas of innocence and transformation, perhaps playing with the viewer's expectations of traditional mythological scenes, wouldn't you agree? Editor: That makes sense. It feels like Rimmer is using familiar imagery to hint at something more complex. Curator: Exactly. And the sketch-like quality could be a deliberate choice, underscoring the fragile nature of those ideals within a rapidly changing society. I wonder how his audience perceived it. Editor: I see it now; it's not just a sketch, but a commentary. Curator: Precisely, art often reflects its socio-political surrounding.