Tree 19th-20th century

Editor: This is an etching of a "Tree" by Gurdon Saltonstall Howe, from the Harvard Art Museums. It feels very quiet, almost like a memory. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a testament to impermanence. The bare branches reaching skyward, almost skeletal, remind me of winter’s stark beauty. Notice how the artist uses the etching to capture a certain light, a somber glow. It's not just a tree, it's a feeling. Editor: A feeling of what? Loss? Curator: Perhaps, or maybe just a gentle acceptance of the cycle of life. It reminds me of a poem – fragile and strong, all at once. It's beautiful. Editor: I guess I was too focused on the sadness. Thanks, I see it differently now. Curator: That's the magic, isn't it?