The End of the Day 1908

Curator: This wood engraving is titled "The End of the Day" by Auguste-Louis Lepère. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, though the specific date of its creation isn’t documented. Editor: My first thought? Exhaustion. You can almost feel the weight of the day on those figures by the water. Curator: The bent figures, the darkening landscape… it speaks to the universal symbolism of twilight as a time of rest, a winding down of labor. Notice how the artist uses only a few shades to evoke such feeling. Editor: Yes, and the water seems so still and reflective, like a mirror for the soul after a day of toil. This image triggers a sort of meditative melancholy, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. It’s a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, the continuous rhythm of work and rest, day and night – deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness. Editor: A lovely, somber reflection. A poignant reminder that even endings can be beautiful.