The Three Philosophers: Josiah Royce, George Herbert Palmer and William James c. 1920

Curator: Winifred Rieber's monumental canvas, "The Three Philosophers: Josiah Royce, George Herbert Palmer and William James", presents these Harvard luminaries in a rather somber atmosphere. Editor: My first impression is one of profound intellectual intensity, almost claustrophobic with thought. The palette is so subdued. Curator: Indeed. Rieber uses a limited range of tones to emphasize the relationships between the figures, structuring them within a triangular composition. Notice how the light isolates the hands of Josiah Royce who is seated at the table. Editor: That light is strategically placed. Hands have long been associated with creative power, the application of knowledge. And, there is a book laid open on the table, a symbol of inherited knowledge, of course. Curator: Precisely. The texture, too, is intriguing—heavy impasto in the highlights contrasting with the more thinly painted background, effectively flattening the space. Editor: This work almost feels like a modern-day memento mori. Curator: Perhaps, a reflection on the weight of intellectual legacy. Editor: It's a portrait that stirs contemplation, and prompts us to reflect on the value of wisdom.