Last Leaves 1915

Editor: This is Auguste-Louis Lepère's "Last Leaves," an etching, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels quiet, almost melancholic. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a landscape imbued with a sense of transition, the "last leaves" symbolizing not just the end of autumn, but perhaps also broader cycles of life and memory. Notice the figures; are they returning home, or embarking on a journey? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the figures as symbols. Curator: The artist's use of line is evocative, isn't it? The starkness of the bare trees against the sky can evoke a powerful sense of cultural memory associated with loss and resilience. Editor: I see that now! Thanks for helping me see beyond the surface. Curator: It’s a privilege to explore these visual echoes together.