Angel c. 1900 - 1903

Curator: Here we have Abbott Handerson Thayer’s "Angel," part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Thayer, who lived from 1849 to 1921, was known for his idealized figures. Editor: She feels…fragile. Like a memory, or a whisper of something beautiful about to fade. The brushstrokes give her such ephemeral qualities. Curator: Thayer's angel imagery was deeply rooted in his personal beliefs about purity and spirituality, reflecting broader Victorian sentiments on ideal womanhood. Editor: Right, the angel as a symbol. But look at her expression—there's a hint of melancholy too, a knowingness that transcends mere innocence. Curator: Many of Thayer’s "angels" were, in fact, portraits of his daughters and other young women, which complicates these readings of idealized femininity. Editor: It's like he's captured a moment of transition, poised between earthly existence and something far more profound, which, maybe, is what the best art does. Curator: An interesting observation—it’s useful to think about his work as both a product and negotiation of its time. Editor: It's a reminder of the layers beneath the surface, I guess, of art, life, and all of it.