Autumn 

Editor: Here we have Franklin Carmichael's "Autumn," an oil painting done en plein air. It's a dazzling explosion of color! What's the first thing you notice when you look at this painting? Curator: The way the artist has captured the *feeling* of autumn is palpable. The intense colors certainly catch the eye, but it’s the subtle interplay between light and shadow that really speaks to me. Note how the dark greens anchor the vibrant oranges and yellows; it creates a sense of depth and grounding, like the last vestiges of summer holding on. Editor: That's interesting. So, the darkness isn’t just about realism? Curator: Not entirely. Think about what autumn represents, symbolically: a transition, a period of reflection, a letting go. The painting holds within it symbols for that emotional shift. Notice the stark, bare branches of that central tree – it's a powerful visual metaphor for the vulnerability of the season. And how that starkness emphasizes the intense warmth in the golden canopy... Editor: So, he's using colors and forms to convey more than just the appearance of a forest? Curator: Exactly! These weren't random colors and shapes, Carmichael uses them in order to unlock shared emotions, collective memories tied to the seasonal changes, life, and loss. Consider what 'autumn' means in your personal vocabulary. How many stories are you ready to write when you look at this scene? Editor: That really changes how I see it. Before, it was just a pretty landscape. Now, I'm thinking about my own experiences with letting go. Curator: That’s the beauty of art! The cultural symbols interact with your own vocabulary, personal impressions of colors, themes, images to establish intimate rapport, and a connection to history and nature. Editor: It’s amazing how much can be communicated through what appears to be a simple landscape painting. Curator: Indeed. Hopefully, you will now feel how 'Autumn' reveals so much more the more you stay in contact with your sensations.