Untitled (lily) c. 1892 - 1905

Editor: So, this is Sarah Choate Sears' "Untitled (lily)," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a photograph, and I find it strikingly elegant. What historical context might have shaped Sears' artistic choices here? Curator: Floral photography became quite popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sears, as a wealthy woman, had the means to engage in artistic pursuits. How do you think her social position might have influenced her subject matter and aesthetic approach? Editor: Perhaps it allowed her a certain freedom to focus on beauty and form, detached from more pressing social concerns? Curator: Precisely. The Arts and Crafts movement also influenced photography, valuing handcrafted beauty and natural forms. Sears' image reflects this aesthetic. Editor: That makes sense. It's interesting to consider how social factors intersect with artistic expression. Curator: Indeed. Art rarely exists in a vacuum; it’s a reflection of its time.