The Hierarchies 1807

Curator: This is "The Hierarchies" by John Flaxman. It is undated and is part of the Tate Collection. Editor: My first thought? Serenity, but with a hint of melancholy. The simplicity is striking. Curator: Flaxman, who lived from 1755 to 1826, was a British sculptor and designer, deeply influenced by Neoclassicism. Here, the hierarchies are not just about order but, perhaps, a structure of power, a celestial patriarchy even. Editor: Power, yes, but also yearning. Look at those upturned faces, the pleading hands. It feels like a desire for something just out of reach. Are they reaching for God or liberation? Curator: It's fascinating how Flaxman uses line to convey so much emotion and meaning. I think that the piece offers an opportunity to reflect on how systems of belief shape our perceptions of the divine and the self. Editor: Exactly. It's a deceptively simple drawing that holds a mirror to our own spiritual longings and societal structures. Something to ponder, definitely.