Trimalchio, accompanied by a youth, throwing plates at a woman 1919

Curator: Lovis Corinth, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, created this plate, whose title is Trimalchio, accompanied by a youth, throwing plates at a woman. Editor: The composition feels chaotic, almost violent. The frenetic lines suggest a rapid, perhaps uncontrolled, creative process. Curator: Absolutely. Corinth was known for his expressive etching technique. The act of plate throwing highlights a culture of wasteful opulence, likely critiquing social elites. Editor: Right. The scene embodies a performative excess, mirroring the decadence of figures like Trimalchio, whose behavior reflects the power dynamics of his time. Curator: Note the intentional blurring between high art and more accessible forms of production, like printmaking, which broadens the audience for this critique. Editor: It’s a stark representation of social imbalance, using both the subject matter and Corinth’s technique to challenge comfortable narratives. Curator: The dimensions make it surprisingly intimate, even provocative. Editor: Indeed. It leaves one with a lingering sense of unease and the pressing need to look at our own present.