Procris and Cephalus 19th-20th century

Curator: Frank Short, born in 1857, created this etching called "Procris and Cephalus." Editor: My first thought is that it's melancholic, sepia-toned like an old photograph. Is it about doomed love? Curator: Indeed. It nods to the Greek myth, the tragedy of Procris, mistakenly killed by her husband Cephalus. Think about the narratives we build around trust and betrayal, even now. Editor: And the darkness of the woods contrasting with the openness of the landscape… Short really plays with light and shadow, doesn't he? Curator: It's as if he’s etching the emotional turmoil into the landscape itself. You can almost hear the echoes of Cephalus's arrow. Editor: It makes me question how these stories reinforce patriarchal power and the dangers of jealousy, even when unintentional. Curator: Absolutely. Short invites us to reflect on this story, using the forest as a stage for their tragic romance. Editor: I find myself wondering about the stories we still choose to tell. Curator: Maybe there is a way of finding new ways to tell them.