The Days of Creation: The Third Day 1870 - 1876

Editor: This is Edward Burne-Jones' "The Days of Creation: The Third Day," and I'm struck by the ethereal quality of the figures and the orb they hold. What do you see in this piece, formally speaking? Curator: The composition is quite deliberate. Note the verticality, the triptych-like structure with the three figures, and the subtle gradation of color. Burne-Jones uses line to create a sense of depth, though it remains largely flattened. Do you notice the careful arrangement of the drapery and the delicate rendering of the figures’ features? Editor: Yes, it’s all very controlled and precise. The colors are muted and the figures have a sort of detached beauty. I see it as a cohesive exploration of form and representation. Curator: Precisely. The artist is less concerned with narrative and more focused on the internal relationships of line, color, and form. It’s a study in aesthetic harmony, a rejection of realism in favor of idealized beauty. Editor: I appreciate how your insights highlight the formal elements. It shifts my focus from just the subject to the artist's choices in presenting it. Curator: Indeed, by looking closely at these formal choices, we can better understand the artist's aesthetic intentions.