The King Drinks c. 18th century

Curator: This is "The King Drinks" by Ephraim Gottlieb Krüger. Krüger was a German artist who lived from 1756 to 1834. This piece is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a boisterous and convivial atmosphere; a celebratory scene depicted through masterful use of light and shadow! Curator: Indeed. The image depicts a rowdy gathering, likely related to the Feast of the Bean, a tradition connected to the Epiphany. Editor: The composition draws the eye, leading from the "king" at the table to the server pouring from above. Note the subtle expressions! Curator: Krüger's work allows us to observe social customs, the ritualized inversion of societal roles through festivals, and the public role of imagery in reinforcing those rituals. Editor: Yes, and within the work, a sort of dynamic balance is struck between the figures themselves and the objects around them. Curator: Precisely. Studying art of this nature lets us contextualize past communal rituals. Editor: I'll be thinking about the composition long after viewing it!