Saint Genevieve as a child in prayer 1874 - 1876

Curator: The prevailing stillness gives the piece a rather reverent quality. Editor: And the artwork, titled “Saint Genevieve as a Child in Prayer,” completed between 1874 and 1876 by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, certainly invokes reflection. Curator: It does, but my first reaction is to its construction; look how the artist utilizes watercolor to create depth despite the soft palette. Note too how watercolor provides almost chalky surfaces and subtle shifts, that really help create a timeless, and somehow unfinished look. What I really appreciate about de Chavannes is how his material sensibility often feels raw. Editor: Agreed, and that’s fitting considering the political climate of the era and the broader history this piece taps into. The Franco-Prussian War had just ended, and France was grappling with a sense of national identity, and what it means to rebuild a nation's psyche. Curator: How does the depiction of Saint Genevieve speak to this rebuilding, or reclaiming? Editor: Saint Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris, a symbol of resilience and protection. Depicting her as a child connects the present with the foundational myths of French culture. She becomes a timeless image, existing outside any distinct socio-political moment, an intercessor, for all eras of national hardship. Curator: An almost ethereal national symbol constructed using very tangible artistic means, which brings me back to my materialist perspective on watercolor and its production and use during this period. De Chavannes work almost elevates the genre painting to something more monumental. Editor: Definitely, his rendering provides a powerful case study of art as cultural commentary, and his Saint Genevieve is both a work of devotion and political commentary in its subtle invocation of tradition. Curator: True, these combined insights create a layered context to enhance an emotional reading. Editor: Exactly, art serves many needs, not the least being our continued need to seek inspiration in the past.