Calligraph Forming 1958

Lawren Harris’s enigmatic ‘Calligraph Forming’ uses oil on board to evoke profound depths, through seemingly abstract forms. Here, serpentine lines crawl across the canvas, symbols which bear the weight of centuries. Consider the serpent, an ancient motif. In some cultures it embodies healing and rebirth, like the serpent entwined on the staff of Asclepius, a symbol for medicine. Yet, it can also evoke chaos and temptation, as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. This duality haunts our collective memory, arousing contrasting feelings of awe and trepidation. In Harris’s work, the serpent is not overtly depicted. Instead, it is suggested, its essence abstracted and integrated into the sinuous lines. A visual echo, it taps into our subconscious, reminding us of the primal forces that shape our understanding of life, death, and renewal. The serpent’s recurring presence in art and myth is a testament to its enduring psychological power, reflecting humanity's ongoing struggle to understand our own nature.