Head of a Soothsayer, for "Belshazzar's Feast" 1839 - 1843

Curator: Allston's "Head of a Soothsayer" is a small preparatory drawing, roughly 9.5 by 7.8 centimeters, for his larger unfinished work, "Belshazzar's Feast." Editor: It's stark. The quick, confident strokes suggest a very specific character, steeped in the tensions of power and prophecy. Curator: Precisely. Considering Allston's social circles and their engagement with abolitionist movements, one wonders if this "soothsayer" embodies suppressed voices challenging authority? Editor: The drawing itself—the very act of sketching on paper—was a means of visualizing and materializing these challenges, a tangible form given to abstract fears about social unrest. Curator: A fascinating thought. This simple sketch really opens a window into anxieties about power, knowledge, and perhaps, even revolution. Editor: Agreed. I’m struck by how this small drawing acts as a potent artifact of larger societal anxieties.