The Second Hour of Night c. 19th century

Curator: Oh, there's something so dreamy and elegant about this work. Editor: Indeed! This is "The Second Hour of Night" by Jean François Ribault, an early 19th-century print held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Immediately, I’m struck by the figure’s grace against that dark background. Curator: It's almost like she's dancing through the void, isn’t it? The swirling drapery adds to that sense of movement. The hourglass she holds aloft, a rather melancholic symbol, right? Editor: Absolutely. The hourglass underscores the fleeting nature of time, and perhaps the transience of life itself. Representations like this are often tied to Neoclassical interests in morality and mortality. Curator: The lyre, the mask, the bird... these items placed below her create a wonderful narrative balance, a whole little world on its own. Editor: Yes, a fascinating array of symbols! And when you consider that this was created during a period of great social upheaval, it really emphasizes the role of art to perhaps provide some sort of comforting order or stability. Curator: I'd never thought about it like that, very fascinating to think about the art in this context. Thanks for pointing that out. Editor: Of course! Art always has something new to reveal, doesn't it?