Melancholia (triptych) 1946

Editor: Here we have Karl Zerbe’s *Melancholia*, a triptych with no specific date, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The strange scenes depicted create such a sense of unease. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a direct engagement with the socio-political anxieties of Zerbe's time. The fractured imagery and symbolic figures evoke the chaos and disillusionment following World War II. Consider the artist's biography as a German émigré navigating the American art world. Editor: That’s interesting. So the triptych form… Curator: Yes, the triptych form itself, traditionally used for religious altarpieces, takes on an ironic tone. What does it mean to elevate such unsettling imagery to a sacred status? Editor: It definitely adds another layer to it. Curator: Indeed, it asks us to confront uncomfortable truths about society and the human condition. A powerful statement on the public role of art, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely, I hadn't considered its public and political implications to such an extent. Thanks!