The Heavenly Potter 1883 - 1884

"The Heavenly Potter" (1883-1884) by American artist Elihu Vedder (1836-1923) is a poignant allegorical drawing. The image depicts a celestial being, possibly an angel, creating a vessel from clay. It's a symbolic representation of the creation of humanity, with the text emphasizing the connection between human existence and the earth from which we are made. The somber tone and the presence of a skull in the foreground suggests a reflection on mortality and the fragility of life. The image is rendered in a stylized and slightly archaic aesthetic, characteristic of Vedder's later works.