Harbour Defence - Winter 1919

Editor: Arthur Lismer's "Harbour Defence - Winter," created in 1919, strikes me as desolate. The muted tones of this etching and pencil drawing, combined with the stark depiction of weaponry amidst a wintery landscape, evoke a feeling of quiet tension. What do you make of this scene? Curator: You know, it’s interesting you pick up on that tension. To me, it’s as if Lismer is catching his breath after the war. It's not quite a celebration, but a quiet observation of what remains, a lingering presence that’s both melancholic and resolute. See how the textures create almost a ghostly ambiance around these massive guns? Almost like memories clinging to a place. I see ghosts mingling with the present. Do you see that? Editor: Yes, the textures are haunting, particularly the sky. And you're right, the cannons seem like remnants of something that’s passed. But who is that solitary figure? Curator: Ah, a superb question! Maybe a guard, or perhaps Lismer himself, contemplating the changed world. His gaze directs us to contemplate both destruction and survival and the fact that they share so much. I can almost feel the cold seeping from the paper, that sense of standing alone against something immense and unchangeable. Have you ever had a place feel this alive to you? Editor: That's a lovely way to look at it, less about military might and more about the weight of history and the individual's place within it. Thanks for bringing that to my attention! Curator: My pleasure! And I think looking at it together helped both of us see deeper. Art should stir and simmer in the cauldron of our thoughts!