Clemens Röseler and his cat c. 1927

Curator: This is T. Lux Feininger's "Clemens Röseler and his cat", a photograph that now resides in the Harvard Art Museums. It captures a tender moment, doesn't it? Editor: Tender, yeah, but there’s a tension too. The stark contrast makes it feel almost confrontational. The cat looks like it wants to bolt. Curator: The high contrast definitely adds a layer of complexity. Considering Feininger's Bauhaus background, we can see a reflection of the New Objectivity movement, rejecting romanticism for a more direct, socially engaged realism. Editor: I see that. The man’s face is shadowed, almost anonymous, while the cat's vulnerability is amplified. It sparks thoughts about power dynamics, even in simple affection. Curator: Precisely. These dynamics play out across social structures, which Feininger, through his artistic lens, subtly acknowledges. Editor: Makes you wonder if Clemens ever realized his portrait would provoke such thoughts. Curator: Art often has a life beyond the artist's initial intent. Editor: That's true. It certainly gave me something to ponder.