Fish (Decorative Panel) 1865

Editor: So, this is John La Farge's "Fish (Decorative Panel)." It's undated, but we know La Farge lived from 1835 to 1910. The fish itself looks so still, almost monumental. What symbols do you see emerging here? Curator: Consider how the fish, a Christian symbol, is juxtaposed with blossoming branches, suggestive of rebirth. What emotional resonance does this create? Perhaps a cycle of life and death, decay and renewal. The blossom itself is ephemeral, it speaks to the transient nature of beauty, of life itself. Editor: That’s insightful. The idea of a cycle connects the seemingly disparate images. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, the dialogue between seemingly unrelated symbols often unlocks profound truths.