Studies of a Man and a Woman for "The Golden Age" 1843 - 1848

Editor: Here we have Ingres’ preparatory drawing, *Studies of a Man and a Woman for “The Golden Age,”* in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. The figures almost seem to float on the page. What do you make of their poses? Curator: It's intriguing, isn't it? The man’s raised arm and the woman’s hesitant touch suggest a narrative frozen in time. I wonder if Ingres was thinking of some idyllic past, or perhaps a more complex, even troubled paradise? Editor: Troubled paradise, that's interesting. I hadn't considered that. Curator: Sometimes the most beautiful things hide the most profound questions, don’t you think? This sketch whispers possibilities, rather than shouting answers. Editor: This has really opened my eyes. Thanks for sharing! Curator: My pleasure. Art's like a conversation, always changing, always revealing something new.