Tailpiece from Ermance 1775

Curator: This is Louis Michel Halbou's "Tailpiece from Ermance," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a delicate etching, only about 4 by 4 inches. Editor: It has such a melancholic feel, doesn't it? That dark, thorny border and the weeping mask… Curator: Yes, the imagery is quite loaded. Note how the central scene, a woman raising her hand as if warding off a cherub, is framed within this elaborate, theatrical border. It speaks to the sentimental dramas popular in the late 18th century. Editor: The cherub offering a flaming heart… that’s a powerful symbol of rejected love. And the mask encircled by a serpent—clearly deceit and sorrow entwined. It's a whole story in miniature, a visual emblem of regret. Curator: Exactly. And tailpieces like this often functioned as more than mere decoration; they served as moralizing commentaries, reflecting societal anxieties about love, loss, and virtue. Editor: It’s amazing how much emotional weight Halbou packed into such a small space. Curator: Indeed. A reminder that even the smallest images can reveal the deepest cultural currents.