Ladder of Heaven 1905

Curator: Immediately I'm struck by the melancholy. It’s such a muted, almost hesitant use of color. The circular composition feels very self-contained, inward looking. Editor: You've just described "Ladder of Heaven," a colored pencil drawing by Edward Burne-Jones, completed around 1905. It's a prime example of symbolism intertwined with the Arts and Crafts movement's aesthetic. Curator: Ah, the visual language Burne-Jones employs is laden with archetypes. An angel traverses a rainbow, carrying a branch - what does this climb, this offering signify within his personal iconography, do you think? Editor: The ladder or the rainbow in this case, suggests ascension, spiritual striving. The branch might represent hope, renewal, or perhaps even a specific attribute of the angel - some connection to the natural world. It calls to mind the tradition of annunciation scenes, where angels are divine messengers who deliver momentous news. Curator: The Arts and Crafts sensibility shines through in its emphasis on handcraft, the almost illustrative quality. Look at the detail in the landscape and the folds of the robe. And I find it interesting how the angel figure and landscape share a common golden halo that seems to suggest a sense of union. Do you see how there's an absence of any defined facial features, rendering it more of an ideal. Editor: Indeed. It transcends the earthly, reaching towards the ethereal. Considering it's a drawing, the texture achieved is remarkable; look at the subtle blending of the pencils to evoke atmospheric depth and that distinct sense of otherworldly calm. There's a deliberateness in his mark-making, too. It all guides the eye around the composition and reinforces the symbolic intent of ascension. Curator: Absolutely, from a cultural viewpoint, this piece is steeped in the longing for a spiritual connection during an era defined by great changes. Editor: Precisely. It makes one consider not only the overt Christian symbolism at play but also the artist’s deep interest in visual codes and aesthetic beauty for their own sake. Curator: It leaves you pondering the individual narratives that link earth to sky, doesn’t it? Editor: Yes, this quiet work opens up so many possibilities of the artist’s intent for the viewer.