The Consolation 1877

Editor: This is "The Consolation," an undated etching by Charles Albert Waltner. It shows an intimate moment between a seated couple. The mood feels somber, almost melancholic, despite the title. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's the gaze, isn't it? She's offering him solace, but his eyes are fixed elsewhere, perhaps inward. Waltner captures that complex dance of comfort offered and received. It reminds me of those silent moments when words fail, and only a gentle touch remains. Editor: So, the consolation might be more for the giver than the receiver? Curator: Precisely! It’s a mirror reflecting the dual nature of empathy, the bittersweet exchange when offering support. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It's more nuanced than I initially thought.