[no title] c. 1893

Curator: What a delightfully frenetic composition. The contrast between the figures and the intricate linework of the trellis is striking. Editor: Yes, this is an untitled wood engraving by Charles Ricketts. Ricketts, born in 1866, was a significant figure in the British Aesthetic movement. The print is held in the Tate Collections. Curator: Ricketts' handling of the black and white spaces lends a dramatic tension. Note how the heavy, dark drapery of the running figure is echoed by the shadow in the upper corner. Editor: It's interesting to consider how Ricketts' work, with its stylized figures and decadent themes, reflects the broader cultural anxieties of the late 19th century—the anxieties about modernity and industrialization. Curator: Precisely. The deliberate artifice becomes a statement in itself. The rhythm of the lines, the careful distribution of weight, elevate the scene beyond mere illustration. Editor: And the work seems to embrace artifice as a form of rebellion against prevailing notions of realism and naturalism at the time. I wonder how contemporary audiences interpreted these themes. Curator: Regardless, this print’s exquisite design and bold execution remains impressive. Editor: Absolutely, a fine example of Ricketts' contribution to the era's visual vocabulary.