Study for Merlin and Nimue in "The Beguiling of Merlin" c. 1871

Editor: So, this is Edward Burne-Jones' study for "Merlin and Nimue in 'The Beguiling of Merlin'". It's located at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a charcoal drawing, quite haunting. How do you interpret this work in the context of its time? Curator: Considering the Victorian era's fascination with Arthurian legends, Burne-Jones uses myth to explore anxieties around female power and male vulnerability. Do you see how Nimue's gaze seems to hold Merlin captive? Editor: Yes, almost like a power imbalance. What about the social implications of representing women in this way? Curator: It reflects a broader cultural discourse, doesn't it? Women were often depicted as either angelic or dangerous, and Nimue definitely leans towards the latter, embodying fears of female manipulation within a patriarchal society. I find the composition particularly striking in how it stages this social drama. Editor: That's a very helpful point of view. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It’s always interesting to consider how art reflects and shapes societal attitudes.