The River Lethe 1807

Curator: John Flaxman, born in 1755, created this drawing, "The River Lethe," as illustrations for Dante’s *Divine Comedy*. Editor: It feels so stark and ethereal; the stark lines emphasize the vulnerability of the figures. The light suggests a kind of cleansing or absolution. Curator: The River Lethe, in classical mythology and Dante’s vision, offers oblivion, wiping away memories of past sins. Flaxman, drawing from the Neoclassical style, strips away ornamentation to focus on the psychological drama. Editor: That symbolism is powerful, especially considering the cultural weight placed on memory and identity. Who has access to this "cleansing," and what are the power dynamics at play in choosing to forget? Curator: Precisely. The act of forgetting isn't neutral; it’s imbued with political and social implications. Flaxman’s choice to represent this scene underscores how narratives of redemption are intertwined with larger questions of power and historical memory. Editor: It definitely gives you something to consider about the symbolism of erasure, doesn't it?