Dance Scene 1953

Jose Manuel Capuletti made this print, Dance Scene, at an unknown date using, it seems, lithography or a similar process. The marks are delicate and airy. It’s a space between worlds. Look at how Capuletti layers the figure with what appears to be a matador cape. The figure is off-kilter, with spindly legs and arms extended, almost weightless. The colors are muted; olive, gray, red and black. They create a dreamlike atmosphere, maybe a memory. The surface has a slight texture from the printmaking, adding to its tactile quality. You can almost feel the dust. There's a lightness in the marks, a suggestion of movement and transience. This reminds me of Goya and his ability to capture fleeting moments and the strange drama of life. The ambiguity in Capuletti’s work is so inviting, leaving us space to wander and dream.