A Farewell, Lake of Como II c. 19th century

Curator: This is "A Farewell, Lake of Como II," by Robert Wallis, and held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's melancholic, wouldn't you say? Like a memory fading at the edges, this little scene is swamped by an overwhelming negative space. Curator: Indeed. The composition emphasizes the scene's isolation. Note the contrast of the intricate details in the foreground with the blank expanse surrounding it. Editor: It feels like Wallis is wrestling with something. The beauty of the lake versus the stark reality of leaving? Perhaps he's saying goodbye to more than just a place. Curator: The formal elements certainly contribute to a reading of loss and introspection. Editor: Absolutely, and you know, sometimes the most profound statements are whispered, not shouted. Curator: Well, it offers us all a moment for introspection, doesn't it? Editor: A quiet moment of beauty.