Introductory page: The Dinner of Trimalchio 1919

Curator: Lovis Corinth's "Introductory page: The Dinner of Trimalchio," a print from around 1900, is striking in its density. The text itself becomes an art object, doesn't it? What's your take? Editor: It feels less like a caption and more like an invitation to indulge in the story itself. What historical and social currents do you see reflected in this work's focus on excess and freedom? Curator: Absolutely. Corinth situates us within the fin-de-siècle anxieties surrounding class, morality, and the role of the artist. How does he engage with or critique these ideas through the choice of Petronius's text? Editor: It seems to both celebrate and question the hedonism of the era. I see it as a mirror reflecting our own complex relationship with pleasure and societal norms. Curator: Precisely. It's a dance between reverence and rebellion, isn't it? A testament to art's ability to hold uncomfortable truths. Editor: I didn’t expect to see so much social commentary just by looking at a page of text. Thank you!