Tarantella c. 20th century

Editor: This is Harry Morley's "Tarantella," an etching held at the Harvard Art Museums. The figures and details feel very classical, yet it depicts a lively, almost chaotic scene. What historical context can you bring to this image? Curator: The tarantella dance has a complex history tied to folk healing and cultural performance in Southern Italy. How might the artist be engaging with or perhaps reinterpreting this tradition for a different audience? Editor: So, it's not just a fun dance, but something much deeper with roots in ritual and perhaps even social commentary? Curator: Precisely. Consider how Morley uses this imagery; is he romanticizing a folk tradition, or commenting on the role of performance and spectacle in society? Editor: I see it now; the composition and the figures' expressions really make it more than just a depiction of a dance! Thanks!