"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven..." 1899

Curator: This print, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven...", by Odilon Redon. Editor: It feels like a dreamscape, doesn't it? That city hovering up there amidst all that furious energy... almost menacing. Curator: Redon was deeply influenced by literary symbolism, particularly the idea of exploring inner states of mind. This print certainly reflects those themes. Editor: It's like the city is a thought, a concept struggling to take form amidst chaos. Or maybe it's a memory trying to surface. Curator: Indeed. Redon was working at a time when social and political upheaval was causing many to question established structures. Editor: I like that the technique feels so raw and unrestrained. It really heightens the emotional impact. Curator: It demonstrates how art can reflect both personal and collective anxieties, and the longing for an ideal. Editor: Makes you wonder what kind of world Redon was imagining for the future. Something beautiful yet uncertain, perhaps?