Untitled (Madonna Lily) c. 1892 - 1905

Editor: This is Sarah Choate Sears’ photograph, "Untitled (Madonna Lily)." The contrast is striking, making the flower almost glow against the dark background. What do you see in this image? Curator: For me, it's a study in contrasts, really. Sears captures the lily's delicate form with such sharp clarity, almost like a scientific illustration, but then she smothers it in this inky black. It's the Victorian era's love of both science and melodrama, all in one shot. Doesn't it feel a bit like a stage drama to you? Editor: It does, actually! I hadn’t thought of it that way. It's interesting how she uses light to emphasize the flower’s purity while the darkness adds a sense of mystery. Curator: Exactly! It’s a dance between light and shadow, innocence and, dare I say, a hint of the forbidden. It's rather intoxicating. I think I’ll go plant some lilies now...