The Days of Creation: The Sixth Day 1870 - 1876

Editor: This is Edward Burne-Jones's "The Days of Creation: The Sixth Day," currently at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by how the figures seem to exist in these contained, almost dreamlike layers. What do you see in this piece, particularly in its use of symbols? Curator: The figures echo classical archetypes. Notice how the sphere containing Adam and Eve is held aloft, suggesting a fragile new world, observed by watchful angels. The angel below, with the harp, embodies the harmony brought about on the Sixth Day. Editor: So, the sphere acts as a visual encapsulation of humanity's nascent existence? Curator: Precisely. And the faces of the observing angels, each slightly different, evoke various aspects of divine contemplation. It’s Burne-Jones' way of visualizing cosmic themes through human forms. Editor: It is fascinating how a few symbols can tell such a complex story. Curator: Yes, and how those symbols resonate across centuries. It invites us to consider how we, too, are observed, judged, and ultimately, part of a larger creation narrative.