The Furies 1807

Editor: So, here we have John Flaxman's "The Furies," a pen and ink drawing. I’m immediately struck by the starkness of it all. The figures seem caught in a moment of raw emotion, but what do you make of their… serpentine companions? Curator: Ah, those writhing serpents! They're not just accessories, darling. To me, they are the physical manifestation of the Furies' inner turmoil, each snake a tiny, slithering representation of guilt and vengeance. Notice how Flaxman uses line to convey not just form, but feeling. Do you feel the tension? Editor: I do! It's like the lines themselves are vibrating with anger and fear. I never thought of the snakes as guilt, but that makes perfect sense. It changes everything. Curator: It's all about layers, isn't it? Flaxman invites us to feel the weight of their remorse, to understand the terrible burden of justice. A burden, perhaps, we all carry in some way.