Autumn 1898

Editor: This is Maximilian Lenz’s "Autumn," a print at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels melancholic, all in shades of grey. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a reflection on cycles of decay and renewal, but also a commentary on marginalized figures often overlooked in idealized landscapes. Consider the obscured figure; what does it mean to be hidden, even in nature? Editor: Hidden? I hadn’t really noticed a figure! Curator: Exactly. Lenz draws our attention to invisibility, perhaps echoing the experiences of those unseen or unheard by dominant narratives. It makes you wonder whose stories aren’t being told, doesn’t it? Editor: I never thought of landscapes having such complex layers of meaning. Thanks! Curator: There is always more than meets the eye.