Plague 18th-19th century

Editor: This print, "Plague," by James Fittler, is a pretty bleak scene. There's a sense of overwhelming despair hanging in the air. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: The duality, perhaps? Fittler sets up these contrasting spaces: one of shadowy refuge versus the harsh light of the architecture. And the figures, oh, the figures! Bodies strewn about, but also this flow of people, trying to escape, maybe? It's a dance of death, isn't it? Editor: A dance of death, I like that. Curator: It's a reminder that even in the face of collective tragedy, life, or the *idea* of life, persists. We see ourselves in these narratives, don't we? What do you take away from it? Editor: I guess I see that even amidst chaos, the human spirit keeps searching for hope, or at least a way out. Curator: Beautifully said. It's a haunting image, but also strangely... hopeful.