Annunciation; verso: Sketches for Church Interior before 1926

Curator: This watercolor work, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Annunciation; verso: Sketches for Church Interior" by George Hawley Hallowell. Editor: It's stunning, the initial impression is one of quiet reverence, almost a dreamlike quality. The figures seem both present and ethereal. Curator: Yes, notice how Hallowell employs color and form to convey the sacred nature of the event, but also look at the architectural details. How do they frame the figures? Editor: The deep blues and reds definitely evoke traditional religious art, the colors representing divinity and passion. But the simplicity of the setting—is there a statement being made about the church itself? Curator: Perhaps. The church was a powerful institution. Hallowell's choice to depict it so minimally could be interpreted as a commentary on the Church's role in mediating the divine. Editor: I agree. The image subtly suggests the presence of power, but I wonder what message Hallowell hoped to convey through this rendering of such an iconic subject. Curator: It's a reminder of the complex interplay between art, faith, and social structures.