Conversations: Students at wall

Christian Petersen (Danish-American, 1885-1961)

Conversations: Students at wall, c. 1946

Painted plaster

On loan from the private collection of Carol Mae Campbell

This maquette for the large-scale sculpture of Conversations, sited in south courtyard of Oak-Elm Residence Hall, can be interpreted as depicting a fundamental reason why one fights in war-to attain peace and to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. The longing of so many soldiers to return home to a future where they could return to studies, personal relationships, and be reunited with loved ones left behind, adds a layer of depth to the two young students depicted in Conversations.