The Days of Creation: The Fourth Day 1870 - 1876

Curator: Here we have Edward Burne-Jones's "The Days of Creation: The Fourth Day," a drawing housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It stands a little over 40 inches tall. Editor: My first impression is one of hushed solemnity, like witnessing something sacred and elemental. The figures, androgynous and ethereal, give off a powerful but quiet energy. Curator: The composition is quite striking. Burne-Jones uses a vertical format, focusing attention on the figures and the sphere they hold, which is presumably the sun, moon, and stars, emblems of the fourth day of creation. The restricted palette enhances the sense of gravity. Editor: It’s like they're gently cradling a newly born universe. There’s a tenderness there, but also an awareness of immense power. It’s an interesting contrast. And that subtle glimmer within the sphere—a spark of light amidst the darkness. Curator: Indeed. The artist’s Pre-Raphaelite influences are unmistakable, particularly in the idealized faces and the detailed rendering of drapery and wings. His focus on beauty and symbolism over realism allows for a more emotive interpretation of the biblical story. Editor: It makes me wonder about the artist's perspective. Was he trying to illustrate a literal creation story, or was it more about capturing a sense of wonder, the sheer poetry of existence? Curator: Perhaps it was both. The drawing invites us to contemplate the origins of the cosmos through a lens of both beauty and mystery. Editor: And it reminds us that even the grandest events can begin with a quiet, almost imperceptible shift.