Untitled (At the Beach) c. 1935

Harriet Keese Lanfair created this intimate beach scene using monochrome ink. The figures, clustered together, evoke more than just a day at the beach, they recall a timeless gathering around a sacred space. Observe how the composition echoes that of classical depictions of the Three Graces, but here, instead of ethereal goddesses, we see people rendered in shades of black and grey, full of life and leisure. This scene reminds us of the cyclical nature of cultural expression, echoing the past while reshaping it for a new context. Consider the gesture of the figure looking upwards. It is reminiscent of figures in religious paintings reaching for divine inspiration. In Lanfair's print, the gesture takes on a secular meaning, perhaps expressing a longing for freedom or a connection to nature. This interplay of past and present, sacred and secular, engages us on a subconscious level, triggering memories and emotions tied to shared human experiences. The emotions these invoke represent the continuity of human feeling across time.