The Dawn 1899

Editor: We're looking at "The Dawn" by John La Farge, undated, at the Harvard Art Museums. The figure draped in fabric seems to be emerging from the darkness. What stands out to you? Curator: La Farge was deeply interested in spiritualism and the role of art in shaping public morality. How might the figure's emergence be interpreted in relation to the social anxieties of his time? Editor: Perhaps it's about hope rising during social turbulence? Curator: Precisely. Considering the Gilded Age, with its stark inequalities, La Farge's Dawn becomes more than just a pretty picture. It engages with prevalent desires for a brighter future. Editor: It's fascinating how art reflects those underlying anxieties and hopes. Curator: Indeed. And understanding that connection enriches our viewing experience.