Fandango, from National Dances (N225, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Editor: Here we have "Fandango, from National Dances" a print made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1889. I’m struck by the flatness of the image, how the figure almost seems like a paper doll. How do you see this piece? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the tension created by the limited depth of field and the subject’s pose. Notice the flattening of space. How does that flattening affect our perception of movement and volume? Editor: I see what you mean. There's not much shading, which makes it harder to read the three-dimensionality of her dress and figure. So, what would you say is emphasized then? Curator: I'd argue that the flatness foregrounds the relationships between the colors and shapes. Consider how the ochre of the skirt interacts with the red bodice. Or the echoing curves of the shawl and headdress. Editor: Ah, I see. It's less about realistic depiction and more about how the colors and lines are interacting as abstract shapes. Is that a fair reading? Curator: Precisely. Also, observe the precision and control in rendering the delicate details, and their relation to larger form; it seems to create its own special aesthetic tension, does it not? Editor: I think so! I hadn't really thought about that initial tension, but seeing how the artist balances flatness with vibrant colors definitely gives me a different perspective. Curator: And that, perhaps, reveals how close attention to the formal elements of an artwork can open us up to new insights.