Dancers 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we see Florence Wyman Ivins' "Dancers," held at the Harvard Art Museums. The flowing lines and soft colors give it a dreamlike quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I notice the emphasis on the dancers' costumes. The detail suggests a focus on the material production of performance—the fabrics, the dyes, the labor of creation, even the social context of the time. Where did these materials come from? Who made them? Editor: That's a fascinating perspective. It makes me consider the economics behind the artistry. Curator: Exactly. We can then ask ourselves: what does the image tell us about the consumer culture surrounding dance and theatre during this period? What do you think? Editor: Now, I see so much more to this work than initially perceived!