A Puppet Show 1918

Curator: Walter Gramatté created this intaglio print, titled "A Puppet Show." It's currently part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has an unsettling atmosphere, with the angular lines and stark contrast giving it a nervous energy, almost as if the strings are about to snap. Curator: Gramatté’s work often reflects the social anxieties of his time, particularly the disillusionment following the First World War. Puppet shows themselves were a common metaphor in art during this period. Editor: Yes, and the composition reinforces that feeling. The puppets are rendered with frantic hatching, and the ambiguous space behind them adds to the sense of unease. Curator: It's a powerful commentary on control and manipulation, themes deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of the era, especially given the rise of authoritarian regimes. Editor: Agreed. There is a visual tension between the sharp lines of the puppets and the relative fluidity of the background, implying perhaps that societal rigidity is enforced upon chaos. Curator: The print serves as a reminder of the artist's acute awareness of the socio-political currents around him. Editor: Absolutely, and the visual language makes those concerns resonate even today.