At the Horizon, the Angel of Assurance and in the Somber Sky a Questioning Look 1880

Curator: It's really quite striking, isn't it? This is Odilon Redon's "At the Horizon, the Angel of Assurance and in the Somber Sky a Questioning Look," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The dreamlike imagery certainly captures the anxieties of its time. The child angel, the floating eyeball, the ominous darkness—it feels like a premonition of the horrors of the 20th century. Curator: Redon worked during a period of intense social and political upheaval, and his work reflects anxieties around the shifting power structures and the questioning of traditional authority. Editor: The gaze of that eyeball really puts you on edge, doesn't it? Are we meant to see it as benevolent or sinister? It certainly challenges the conventions of traditional religious iconography. Curator: Exactly! Redon's symbolism offers a critique of power dynamics, questioning who watches whom, and who holds the power to judge. It invites us to consider our own roles in the gaze. Editor: Thinking about the artwork's context, it's a potent reminder of the importance of challenging oppressive structures and refusing to accept dogma. Curator: Precisely. It remains a work that resonates with contemporary audiences grappling with similar power imbalances and societal anxieties.