Fly Rod on River Bank 2003

Curator: This is Larry Stark’s photograph, “Fly Rod on River Bank,” part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. I find the texture of the natural overgrowth so compelling. Editor: Yes, it’s quite lush. It has a very dreamlike quality. That fly rod becomes almost invisible amidst the chaos of green. Curator: The composition uses that chaos, though, to highlight the stillness of the rod. The verticality of the fishing rod is in stark contrast to the horizontal rushes. Editor: Fishing, of course, is traditionally a symbol of patience, of man in harmony with nature. But here, there’s a sense of abandonment. It's a potent image. Curator: Indeed, the rough edges of the photograph itself further underscore this contrast, a sort of disruption of formal presentation that emphasizes the wildness of the scene. Editor: Ultimately, I am left to ponder on the human relationship with nature. Curator: A well-considered work, prompting that deeper reflection.