Sketch for "The Discoverer" Fresco, Assembly Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, New York 1878

Curator: This is William Morris’s "Sketch for 'The Discoverer' Fresco," intended for the Assembly Chamber of the State Capitol in Albany, New York. Editor: Wow, intense chiaroscuro, right? It feels epic, mythic... also maybe a little bleak? Curator: Absolutely. Morris, the famed textile designer and socialist, envisioned this as part of a larger decorative program. It reflects a very specific moment in New York's history, one often mythologized. Editor: A mythologized moment... I wonder what it meant for the Indigenous people who were already here, discovering their own world upended. Curator: Exactly. It's vital to consider whose narrative is centered in these historical representations and whose is marginalized or erased. Editor: Food for thought, definitely. Makes me want to see the finished fresco now! Curator: Indeed. It’s crucial we view these historical works through a contemporary lens, acknowledging the complexities they present.