Allegorical Figure with Double Aulos 

Elihu Vedder created this allegorical drawing using graphite and white chalk on paper. Vedder lived through the American Civil War, and spent time in Europe, absorbing a variety of artistic styles from Romanticism to Symbolism. Here, a nude, androgynous figure sits in a classical landscape. They hold a double aulos, an ancient Greek wind instrument, while rabbits frolic nearby. This idyllic scene evokes a sense of pastoral harmony, yet it also hints at deeper symbolic meanings. Vedder often explored themes of spirituality, and the human condition through his art. Consider the figure’s ambiguous gender, which challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity. This ambiguity may reflect the artist’s own questioning of societal norms and expectations. The rabbits, symbols of fertility and innocence, add another layer of complexity to the composition. Vedder once said, “Art should suggest, not tell all.” What does this drawing suggest to you about the relationship between humanity, nature, and the search for meaning?