A Man Pushing Two Women on a Swing 1864 - 1880

Curator: This print, currently residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is titled "A Man Pushing Two Women on a Swing." The artist is J. Cariven, and its creation dates between 1864 and 1880. Editor: My immediate response is one of whimsy tinged with something darker. The detail is incredible. The entwined figures suspended in the air suggest a romantic idyll, but the monochromatic palette gives it an air of the past. Curator: That’s an interesting duality. This engraving embodies elements of romanticism, placing the figures within an idealized, picturesque landscape, yet we need to acknowledge the social context of the time it was created. Considering it was the latter half of the 19th century, how might gender roles be playing out here? Editor: The swing itself, in pictorial language, can often symbolize the oscillations of fortune, of life's ups and downs. The women are clinging to each other, which conveys the importance of social ties. But let's talk about who is pushing the swing. Note the bearded man in simple clothing; it is curious the artist depicted a servant rather than a father or suitor performing this action. What social role do you believe that assigns him? Curator: It brings forth notions of power dynamics and labor exploitation. We're also positioned as the viewer below them as the women soar above while a servant labors. But why foreground same-sex relations like this? Are we missing something? Editor: It could suggest female solidarity during a period of constrained social expectations or reflect evolving notions of beauty and intimacy. And think about the man’s averted gaze: his social position forbids even casual contact with his employers. It is such a careful staging! Curator: Indeed, these scenes often gloss over the inequalities present. The joy, if it exists, is predicated on these unspoken hierarchies. I can’t unsee the exploitative nature of these scenes. Editor: And I wonder about that clinging embrace, is that tenderness and desire or a shared vulnerability, two souls seeking solace against the prevailing societal currents? Curator: It’s a complex image with intertwining narratives, layers of romanticized presentation versus a harsh, unspoken world of the nineteenth century. Editor: It urges us to acknowledge the layers of meaning embedded within these historical representations, revealing the shadows that often linger behind idyllic facades.