Diana 1846 - 1873

Curator: Ah, this striking lithograph is Célestin Nanteuil's "Diana," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, hello, Diana! Talk about emerging from the shadows – she looks like she's just burst through a veil, all untamed energy. Curator: Indeed. Nanteuil captures her as the goddess of the hunt, stepping over a subdued figure, perhaps a slain animal, accompanied by her hounds. See how he uses stark contrast? Editor: The high contrast is very evocative. It makes me think about the dichotomy of light and dark, life and death, the wild and the civilized. The lithography really lends itself to that tension. Curator: She embodies so many powerful feminine archetypes—hunter, moon goddess, protector of the wild. What do you make of her slightly distracted gaze? Editor: She is looking slightly upwards, but it makes me question if she is aware of the space around her. Perhaps she's caught between worlds, grounded yet ephemeral. There is a certain grace, however, but also a deep primal instinct. Curator: It’s a compelling snapshot of a goddess in action. Nanteuil certainly knew how to make an entrance, didn't he? Editor: Absolutely, it feels like a fleeting moment, an intimate peek into the realm of myth. I'm still thinking about those dogs.