The Raven on the Bust of Pallas Athena 1875

Curator: This is Edouard Manet’s "The Raven on the Bust of Pallas Athena", currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like a fever dream in ink. All dark energy and sharp angles. I feel a sense of stifled drama, suppressed and ready to burst forth. Curator: Indeed. Manet's etching delves into the themes present in Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, emphasizing its somber mood through deliberate use of line and shadow. We see the artist employing the printmaking medium to distribute culture. Editor: It's interesting, that the artist chose to represent this cultural artifact rather than the real thing, which in itself is a copy. Curator: The materials are important. The scale allows for wider distribution, and the stark black and white emphasizes the drama and the stark contrast between life and death. Editor: It gets under your skin. I think I will have nightmares tonight. Curator: A truly haunting, unforgettable print. Editor: One that lingers.