Allegretto 

Cleo Damianakes created this etching titled "Allegretto" sometime between 1860 and 1982. The image depicts female figures in motion, evoking classical ideals of beauty and grace. The artwork’s title suggests a musical connection, “allegretto” being a moderately fast tempo. This links it to the broader cultural interest in music and dance as expressions of harmony and social order. Damianakes’s choice of etching, a traditional printmaking technique, is significant. This medium allows for detailed line work, reminiscent of classical drawings, and also has associations with print culture and the wider dissemination of images, ideas and knowledge. Understanding this artwork involves delving into the historical contexts that shaped Damianakes's artistic vision. By consulting archives, period publications, and critical writings, we can gain insights into the social and institutional forces that influenced her work. In doing so we can reflect on the role of art in articulating and challenging social norms.