The Creation I c. 1875 - 1877

Curator: Here we have Frederick Hollyer’s evocative piece, “The Creation I." The work doesn't have a firm date associated with it, but Hollyer was active from 1838 to 1933. Editor: My first thought is ethereal; she's like a pre-Raphaelite vision, cradling the world itself. How heavy do you think that globe is? Curator: Probably light as a thought, all things considered. I feel the piece embodies a tender, almost maternal creation. Editor: Or is it more about the *re*-presentation of creation? Hollyer was known for his photographic reproductions of paintings. Curator: Perhaps, but in creating a new image, he still captures the mystery of it all. It pulls you in, doesn't it? Editor: It does. It makes me wonder about the labor behind it, and the social context of image production at the time. The hand in service to the divine—or the market? Curator: Now, that's a thought that makes me look at those wings differently. Editor: Exactly! So much is wrapped up in the making and seeing. Curator: Well, I think we've both made something new here today! Editor: Indeed. Let's see what the next artwork brings.