Street Scene in India c. 1885

Editor: So this is Edwin Lord Weeks' "Street Scene in India," painted around 1885. The details are incredible! There's such a lively, almost bustling feel to it, despite the stillness of the figures. What's your interpretation of the symbolism at play? Curator: I see layers of symbolic gestures and imagery that echo throughout. Notice the gaze of the figure on horseback, set apart elevated both literally and figuratively by his status. His averted glance whispers of power, but also of a separation – a detachment. The intricate details of the architecture too carry meaning –symbols of wealth, social hierarchy and status Editor: I hadn’t really thought about that hierarchy in the architectural details. What about the objects, the wares on display? Curator: The carefully arranged shoes outside the shop? And those being held for purchase by others. Consider shoes as more than just utilitarian objects, but as signifiers of journeys, status, or even rites of passage. Then consider the colour and details throughout. Are there more that catch your eye, maybe that relate back to the relationship you observed on initial viewing? Editor: Now that you point it out, the seller in his ochre robes; the whiteness of his clothing juxtaposed with that of the pony – symbols of simplicity alongside symbols of wealth. So much to take in! Thanks so much! Curator: The visual echoes expand beyond the material, reflecting social and psychological states as well! It's a painting that rewards close observation. It reflects as much about Western fantasy of "The Orient," as the rich complex reality, viewed at that point in time! Thanks for helping unpack that too!