Fish 19th-20th century

Curator: Merton Clivette's "Fish," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, presents us with a vibrant, almost childlike depiction. The dimensions are roughly 57 by 73 centimeters. Editor: It's surprisingly lively! That bold magenta touch on the fish's cheek is wonderfully unexpected against the blues. Curator: Clivette's work often embraced a naiveté, a conscious rejection of academic polish. He was interested in accessibility and democratizing art. Editor: Yes, the fish as a symbol resonates across cultures, often linked to fertility, abundance, and transformation. It feels primordial. Curator: Fish have also served as potent symbols within political imagery, particularly in leftist movements, representing the common person swimming against the current. Editor: That splash of pink disrupts any singular interpretation, though. It’s a jarring, playful gesture, preventing the image from becoming purely symbolic. Curator: I see that. It reminds me of how artists throughout the 20th century challenged established artistic conventions and political norms. Editor: I'm left pondering the multiple layers of meaning here – the personal, the cultural, the political, all swimming together.