Centaur Carrying a Woman on his Back 19th-20th century

Editor: This sketch is called "Centaur Carrying a Woman on his Back" by George Henry. It's at the Harvard Art Museums, and I'm struck by how dreamlike the pastel and charcoal make it look. What do you make of this scene? Curator: It's interesting to consider how Henry engages with classical mythology. How does the depiction of the centaur, typically a symbol of untamed nature, contrast with the refined artistic circles he moved in? Editor: I guess I hadn't thought about that tension. So, his artistic circle might have viewed it differently than we do today? Curator: Precisely. They might have seen commentary on the idealized versus the real, perhaps echoing societal expectations of the time. It provokes thought on the public's perception of mythology. Editor: That’s a great point; it seems there’s more to the piece when considering who the audience was at that time.