Ladies' Ticket of Admission to the Annual Caledonian Ball 1824

Curator: Here we have Asher Brown Durand’s “Ladies' Ticket of Admission to the Annual Caledonian Ball,” an engraving from 1824 housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What strikes you initially about this piece? Editor: It's so meticulously ornate! It's giving me vibes of restrained joy, like a secret celebration hidden beneath layers of formalities and protocol. It almost seems like a stage set ready for a lighthearted play. Curator: Durand’s work is deeply embedded with symbolic significance. You notice the two figures, one labeled “Caledonia” and the other "Columbia"? These figures hold banners and are adorned with wreaths. They represent Scotland and America, countries that commemorate the enduring ties between them, in a way bridging cultures and continents, each bearing their symbols with great cultural memory and hope. Editor: It feels so staged! Like they're consciously enacting these national roles, like, "Okay, Caledonia, give us 'proud homeland' vibes!" I am wondering about their personal connection. What were the Scottish doing at balls at the Met? Was it just a yearly party for the ex-pats? I want to know about this Annual Caledonian Ball. I wonder who went, who danced... Curator: Balls like this were very significant cultural events, they fostered connections amongst émigré communities as well as the social, economic and political elites and it created opportunity. The figures frame the text indicating the formal reason for this creation. These balls reinforce connections between nations, people, cultures and pasts in both direct and metaphorical fashion. Editor: This makes me want to put on a tartan dress and attempt a jig – though my knees would protest pretty fiercely. Looking again at the image, you get the feeling the party, and the people that attended it, were vibrant, very beautiful in black and white… It seems full of understated humor somehow, maybe something in their frozen tableau. It invites me into an imaginary party. Curator: Indeed. Engravings like these serve as reminders of our cultural legacies. In what ways are the ties that bind us manifested or commemorated in today’s cultural climate, I wonder? Food for thought. Editor: Food for thought, indeed. It's making me think about cultural identities. About shared histories— both good and bad. There is definitely a lot to think about with this tiny little world captured on this one ladies' ticket.