The Seven Deadly Sins, Gluttony 

Curator: Welcome. Here we see "The Seven Deadly Sins, Gluttony" by the artist Erte, rendered in a vibrant mixed-media graphic style reminiscent of art deco aesthetics. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: A decadent dream! It’s that kind of over-the-top fantasy that only someone obsessed with pure indulgence could conjure. I’m almost tasting that pineapple. Curator: It certainly plays with the symbolism of appetite. We see culinary elements dominating the composition: knives, forks, spoons— a whole arsenal— poised like a bizarre sunburst over a reclining figure. Editor: That figure is disturbing and intriguing at the same time. He’s reclining with the luxurious indolence, but what's going on with that opening in his stomach showing various food items? Curator: Yes, that's precisely the point. It's a potent visual metaphor for the sin of gluttony itself. He's consumed so much that his interior is bursting forth for all to see. Notice how the "architecture" around the figure is framing an excessive behavior—this speaks to Erte’s commentary on spectacle and the role imagery plays in endorsing or critiquing certain social practices. Editor: I’m thinking the same; It's as if the artwork wants to highlight how empty all of the pleasures can make someone feel. That void in his middle looks painful, and isolating. The dishes float above, detached—like unattainable cravings, forever out of reach despite the surface indulgence. Curator: Exactly. There’s a theatrical element, too, drawing from Erte’s background in stage design. The composition feels carefully constructed, inviting us to reflect on themes of excess, desire, and societal judgments surrounding them. Editor: Yes. In my mind, "Gluttony" seems less a condemnation and more of a fantastical cautionary tale—delivered with just enough flamboyant charm to be slightly addictive. Like a sugar-coated poison pill, I imagine. Curator: Precisely. It is an evocative blend of artistic allure and somber commentary. It highlights how artworks serve as social mirrors, reflecting—and challenging—the prevailing values and attitudes towards human behaviors within particular times and places. Editor: And perhaps it makes one question their relationship to, say, dessert!