Calla Lily 1815 - 1821

Curator: This is Washington Allston's drawing, "Calla Lily," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The artist, who lived from 1779 to 1843, rendered this study in pencil on paper. Editor: It feels so delicate, almost ephemeral. The faint lines give it a ghostly quality. Curator: Allston was deeply interested in the expressive potential of line and form. Notice how the stems converge, creating a sense of upward movement. Editor: Given the lily's associations with purity and resurrection, I wonder if Allston was exploring themes of spiritual renewal, especially considering the social upheavals of his time. Curator: Perhaps, but the composition itself is so carefully balanced. The negative space is just as important as the drawn elements in constructing a coherent visual experience. Editor: It's hard to divorce any image of lilies from their cultural baggage. What do you make of that in relation to Allston's artistic choices? Curator: Allston gives us a formal study, so I tend to view those associations as secondary to the aesthetic qualities. Editor: True, but the dialogue between form and context enriches our understanding. Curator: It certainly does. Editor: I see them as forever entangled now.