Occult spiral action: waste-thistle 19th-20th century

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to G. Allen’s botanical print, "Occult spiral action: waste-thistle," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: You know, it looks less like a thistle and more like a brain, with its intricate, almost frightening details. Curator: The artist's focus seems to be on the structural elements; the interplay of the sharp bracts and the soft, almost exploding flower head create a fascinating tension. Editor: And that monochrome palette really throws its inherent beauty into high relief, doesn't it? It's as if the artist is making us look beyond the plant's simple utility. Curator: Precisely. By stripping away the color, we are left to contemplate the underlying architecture and geometry of the natural world. Editor: Almost makes you wish you had a macro lens on your eyeballs, doesn't it? Curator: Quite! Allen encourages us to appreciate the inherent design found in the most unassuming of subjects. Editor: It's definitely not something you'd expect to see, but it's a welcome, if slightly prickly, surprise.