Gesture of the Calla, 4 1985 - 1986

Curator: Here we have Michael Mazur's "Gesture of the Calla, 4" which resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. The print shows a calla lily in a study of dramatic chiaroscuro. Editor: It's striking. The dark background really makes the lily seem to emerge, almost as if it’s caught in a spotlight on a stage. There's such tension between light and shadow. Curator: Yes, Mazur's work often engages with dramatic contrasts to explore the relationship between figure and ground. He often showcased art's engagement with social issues. Editor: Callas themselves have such loaded symbolism, right? Purity, rebirth... but also associated with funerals. I wonder if Mazur was playing with that duality. Curator: It's possible. Mazur was an artist deeply involved in the political issues of his time. His art also reflected broader anxieties. Editor: The gesture of the flower, drooping almost, adds to that sense of melancholy. A complex piece, indeed. Curator: It certainly encourages a deeper contemplation of both beauty and the shadow of its passing.