Untitled 

Curator: Immediately striking is this lithograph from Jules-Alexandre Grün. Its untitled nature gives us quite a bit of interpretative leeway. Editor: Right? I’m immediately catching a vintage vibe—very “Roaring Twenties” even though, hold on, this *feels* earlier. Like the stylish great-aunt nobody talked about is whispering its secrets to me. It's fun and daring but kinda snarky too. Curator: I find it so very Belle Époque. Its humor carries a social charge, reflective of fin-de-siècle anxieties around class, gender, and technological advancement. The piece employs elements we commonly associate with Art Nouveau. Note the swirling lines of the falling rain and the woman's attire. Editor: Definitely seeing the flowing lines—the dress, the tire… It gives everything such movement, especially juxtaposed with the policeman's stern face. Is he scandalized, do we think? It's like the machine age just collided with old world moralities. The artist captured this intersection using caricature. Curator: Undeniably! We must also consider this artwork as a print, specifically as a poster. Posters as an artform began their evolution into their current aesthetic starting in the late 19th century. They serve not just to announce an event or to persuade someone to a viewpoint or course of action, but to be appealing and attractive, in and of themselves. To represent something beyond what they actually depict, in some cases. Editor: Posters truly invite you into a world, don't they? This particular one suggests one filled with cheeky attitudes. There is a wink in this piece for sure. I would guess its humor got its fair share of eye rolls as well as smiles at the time. And the overall color choice is so seductive. A striking lithograph overall! Curator: Indeed, a perfect example of how art can capture the zeitgeist while pushing its own boundaries, even while teasing societal boundaries. Editor: I am truly inspired to loosen up a little bit more myself. And to be a little cheekier, perhaps!