Lake of Como I c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Edward Goodall's "Lake of Como I," held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? It’s like a whisper of a memory, so delicate and dreamlike. The boats on the water look almost like they're floating in mist. Curator: Indeed. Goodall seems fascinated by the symbolic weight of water—that liminal space reflecting both heaven and earth, and human endeavors. Editor: It's interesting how the mountains in the background fade into the sky, really pushing the boats forward as symbols. I wonder what stories these boats carried, what lives they touched? Curator: Perhaps Goodall aimed to capture the timeless allure of such landscapes, their enduring influence on the human spirit. Editor: I like that, capturing allure. For me, this print serves as a gentle nudge—to pause, to reflect, and to perhaps even dream of distant shores.