Man deinst terug voor een schaduw 1892

Editor: This lithograph, "Man deinst terug voor een schaduw," which translates to "Man shrinks back from a shadow," by Henri-Gabriel Ibels, dates from 1892. The high contrast between the figure and the shadow makes me think about theatrical lighting on a stage. What first catches your eye about this print? Curator: Well, given that Ibels was closely associated with the Parisian avant-garde theatre scene and Art Nouveau, it’s hard not to see this as a commentary on performance itself, not merely staging. Consider how the print reproduces within a larger text -- a script. The "shadow" here is not simply a visual element, but perhaps symbolic of societal expectations or even stage fright. What kind of character do you think this figure represents? Editor: His costume and posture makes me think he's Pierrot. I can see elements of that in the script too on the right side of the drawing! Curator: Exactly. The Pierrot figure, common in popular entertainment and Art Nouveau art, embodied a sense of melancholy and social alienation. How do you think Ibels's artistic choices reflect this complex position, especially considering the role of printmaking in circulating such images broadly? Editor: I think the darkness enhances Pierrot's anxiety, especially knowing his character's fate. It creates an unsettling effect, which becomes more widely felt given printmaking's democratic accessibility in society! I never thought about Art Nouveau art reflecting complex socio-political realities until now! Curator: Indeed. It goes to show how even seemingly decorative or purely aesthetic movements are often deeply embedded in broader cultural currents and power structures of the time.