Listening to Preaching 1885

Curator: This intriguing piece from the Harvard Art Museums is titled "Listening to Preaching." The artist remains anonymous. Editor: My first thought is the old man looks terribly bored! Is that a walking stick, or is he about to nod off completely? Curator: Perhaps the walking stick is symbolic, a reminder of the path of righteousness. We see this domestic scene framed within an ornate structure, topped with angels. The window shows a preacher speaking to a crowd. Editor: The contrast is fascinating. There's a real detachment here; a sense of being physically present but mentally…somewhere else. Curator: The artist is playing with these interior and exterior worlds, the personal and the public realms, and how individuals filter belief. Editor: That's it! It's about the personal relationship with faith, versus the communal aspect. Nicely put.