Pietà c. 19th century

Curator: This line drawing, titled "Pietà," is by Christian Ernst Stölzel. Editor: It has a haunting, ethereal quality. The stark lines against the pale paper emphasize the raw emotion of the scene. Curator: Stölzel captures a tender moment, a visual meditation on loss, echoing the broader narratives of suffering and resilience in the face of systemic oppression. Editor: Absolutely, the way the figures are intertwined speaks to a shared grief. It makes me think about the disproportionate impact of violence on marginalized communities. Curator: It's fascinating how Stölzel uses the absence of color to draw attention to the vulnerability of the body. As if, stripped of everything else, we're left with the core of human experience. Editor: Yes, and it pushes us to consider: who gets to be seen as vulnerable, and whose pain is acknowledged? It is quite moving, actually. Curator: A starkly beautiful piece—it lingers in the mind. Editor: Indeed. A quiet, powerful invitation to reflect on collective sorrow.