Three Eyes; Man's Head and Shoulders, for "Belshazzar's Feast" 1820 - 1821

Curator: This is Washington Allston’s sketch, "Three Eyes; Man's Head and Shoulders, for 'Belshazzar's Feast,'" currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a fleeting thought, doesn't it? Raw, immediate. I keep getting drawn to those eyes floating near the bottom. They're haunting. Curator: Allston was deeply interested in conveying psychological depth through his figures, aligning with the Romantic movement’s fascination with emotion and the sublime. "Belshazzar's Feast" was meant to be his masterpiece. Editor: I get a sense of searching, not quite madness, but a kind of intense internal scrutiny. The man's gaze is lifted, as if expecting something, while those disembodied eyes feel like they're looking back at him, or maybe at us. Curator: Perhaps Allston was exploring the themes of prophecy and divine judgment prominent in the biblical story of Belshazzar, with the eyes representing an all-seeing, judgmental presence. Editor: That makes sense. It definitely shifts the mood towards something more ominous, more weighty. It's amazing how a few pencil strokes can suggest so much. Curator: Indeed. This piece offers us a fascinating glimpse into Allston's creative process and the socio-political concerns influencing his art. Editor: It’s like a visual echo. A raw, intimate glimpse into the anxieties of a bygone era that somehow still resonate today.