Lola de Valence 1863

Editor: This is Édouard Manet's "Lola de Valence," an aquatint and etching print from 1863, housed here at the SMK. There's a fascinating sense of drama created through the stark contrast of light and shadow. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The enduring power of an image lies in its capacity to distill a specific moment, a feeling, a cultural undercurrent into symbolic form. What do you see here? Lola, a dancer, is presented not just as an individual, but almost as an archetype. Editor: I see that, especially in the details, her fan, her shawl, even the way the dress flares out, feels performative, each holding some kind of cultural weight. Is that something Manet was trying to convey? Curator: I believe so. Think of the fan, not just as an accessory, but as a symbol of concealed identity, a flirtatious tool used within strict social rituals. It points to layers of meaning. Manet captures her both as a specific woman and as a representative of a certain allure, a certain…performance of femininity. Can you sense that tension? Editor: Definitely. So, it's like Manet isn't just showing us Lola, but the idea *of* Lola, and all the connotations around that. I'm noticing new layers I hadn't considered before! Curator: Precisely! And it's those layers of meaning that continue to resonate, connecting us to the past in fascinating ways. Images act as time capsules; that is something crucial to remember when considering their function.