Study for The Question (The Sphinx); verso: Study for "Astarte Syriaca" 1875

Editor: This drawing by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, "Study for The Question (The Sphinx)," feels both classical and unsettling. There’s this mythical creature, a posed man with a spear, and another collapsed figure. What historical contexts might illuminate this complex scene? Curator: It's fascinating how Rossetti intertwines classical mythology with Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics. Consider the rise of spiritualism and Victorian anxieties surrounding knowledge and the unknown. The Sphinx, traditionally a gatekeeper of wisdom, here becomes a symbol of the era's intellectual and existential questioning. How does the image engage with contemporary debates about art's role in challenging or reinforcing societal norms? Editor: So, the Sphinx isn’t just a mythical figure, but a representation of Victorian intellectual conflict? Curator: Precisely! It challenges the viewer to confront uncomfortable truths, reflecting art's expanding role as a social commentary. The male figures around the Sphinx are also telling: are they victims, challengers, or worshippers of knowledge? Editor: This really changes how I see the drawing. It's not just a mythical scene, but a commentary on Victorian society's relationship with knowledge and the unknown. Curator: Exactly! Now the question is, did Rossetti intend the viewer to find answers, or simply to question?