Group of Boys c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Group of Boys" by Edward Smith. I’m immediately struck by how these children are arranged within what looks like a small Eden. What does this image evoke for you? Curator: The pastoral setting, coupled with the children's nudity, recalls classical ideals of innocence and unspoiled nature. It’s interesting to consider how the artist employs these established symbols to convey particular ideas about childhood, or perhaps even nostalgia. Editor: Nostalgia for what, exactly? A lost Golden Age? Curator: Precisely. Think of the visual cues the artist uses to construct this image as representative of an idealized past - a time of purity, harmony with nature, and unburdened joy. The "bubble" blown by one of the figures also refers to the fleeting nature of beauty, youth, and happiness. Editor: So it's not just a charming scene, but a meditation on time and innocence. I’ll never look at cherubs the same way!