Triton c. 1833

Curator: Here we have Eugène Delacroix's "Triton," a small drawing housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, he looks tormented, almost grotesque. The lines are so sparse, yet they convey such a visceral sense of struggle. Curator: Delacroix, deeply influenced by Romanticism, often explored themes of human suffering and the sublime. Triton, as a mythological figure, is ripe for allegorical interpretation. Is he wrestling with his identity, his power? Editor: Maybe he's just got indigestion? I'm kidding, mostly. But that strained face…it does feel very human, despite the mythical context. Curator: The rapid, almost frantic linework could reflect the revolutionary spirit of the time. It's as if Delacroix is channeling social and political upheaval through this classical figure. Editor: It's interesting to see how quickly he can capture such raw emotion with so few lines. It makes me want to grab a sketchbook and just...feel. Curator: Absolutely, a testament to Delacroix's genius, engaging with myth to reveal the turmoil within. Editor: A beautiful and uncomfortable little masterpiece, I think.