Poppies 1888

Editor: James Smillie's etching and drypoint "Poppies," created in 1888, whispers of candlelight and dreams. I'm immediately drawn to the intimate scale and the soft, almost hazy quality of the image. It feels like peeking into someone's private sanctuary. What draws your eye, what do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! "Poppies." It’s more than just a pretty floral arrangement, isn't it? The choice of poppies is crucial. Think about the symbolism! Poppies have long been associated with sleep, dreams, and even oblivion. And Smillie includes the inscription “Good night, to sweet dreams.” The flickering candle… What do you suppose the juxtaposition of such ephemeral elements communicates? Editor: That’s so interesting. I hadn't thought about the specific symbolism of poppies like that, just admired them as, well, pretty flowers! The candlelight makes me think of vulnerability, of that quiet moment before sleep when thoughts start to drift. But also... of beauty and of stillness. Curator: Precisely! It’s Romanticism in a nutshell, isn’t it? A celebration of the personal, the subjective, and the emotionally evocative, away from rigid, formal depictions. The way the drypoint renders the delicate texture of the petals… you can almost feel them, can’t you? And look how it’s almost a scene out of a painting, still life arrangements captured for the intimacy they could provide. Editor: It is stunning. Knowing about the symbolism and the technique, the fragility... it makes me see so much more. Like Smillie captured something incredibly fleeting. I see the work as a gentle, wistful poem now. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Always lovely to get lost in the dreamy beauty of another artist’s personal visions, don't you think?