Beneath the Shields of Arms 1921 - 1922

Curator: Lovis Corinth, born in 1858, created this intriguing etching, titled "Beneath the Shields of Arms." It's currently part of the Harvard Art Museums' collection. Editor: It feels heavy, burdened almost. The knight looms, but the figures below seem to carry the weight of something unspoken, a silent story. Curator: Corinth often explored themes of power, sexuality, and mortality in his work. This piece could be seen in the context of late 19th-century anxieties about social hierarchies and the burden of history. Editor: The etching is raw, the lines urgent. It reminds me of dreams, the kind where you're trapped in someone else's narrative, trying to break free. Curator: Indeed, the looseness of the etching mirrors the social upheavals of the period. Editor: It’s a powerful statement, even now. Curator: A testament to the enduring questions art poses about our shared past and its impact on the present.