The Dance of the Dead 2: Three Dancing Skeletons 1924

Curator: Ernst Barlach's lithograph, "The Dance of the Dead 2: Three Dancing Skeletons," now at the Harvard Art Museums, leaps from the page. Editor: They're having such a good time! It's morbid, sure, but also darkly humorous, like life thumbing its nose at death. Curator: Barlach, born in 1870, faced immense hardship, and his art often reflects existential anxieties. The lithographic process itself, with its reliance on stone and grease, allowed for a gritty, raw immediacy perfectly suited to this macabre dance. Editor: It makes you think about how everything we do is dance with the inevitable. It's a really powerful reminder. Curator: Absolutely. Consider how these printed images circulated, bringing this potent imagery into homes and public spaces, challenging viewers' understanding of mortality and societal structures. Editor: Barlach really knew how to grab your soul. I'll definitely be thinking about this one for a while.