Tête-à-tête is a French phrase that means a private or intimate conversation between a couple. A portrait of one individual is interesting but a scene of two brings an additional dynamic and interaction that will provide a greater sense of what each character comprises and what they are expressing, especially in relation to the other.

A variety of situations are in this exhibition, and the viewer is encouraged to sense the conversation taking place in each print. For example, in les beaux Jour de la Vie (The Beautiful Days of Life) by Honoré Daumier, what is the topic under discussion and does the couple agree? Or in Les Saltimbanques (The Acrobats) by Pablo Picasso, is this a learning situation? Is the youth the teacher or the student? What is the artist’s intention? In van Leyden’s The Temptation of Christ, Satan holds out a rock to Jesus. Possibly to convince him that the devil holds the world? Why does van Leyden portray Satan as an old man? What words are spoken here to convince or deny?

Pondering the purpose of the conversational duo portrayed and the emotions in the subjects’ interaction adds another dimension to this exhibition. The artists do not explicitly guide the viewer but give us hints. Tête-à-Tête may be seen in the Lux Print Gallery on the second floor. The exhibition is curated by Susan Soriente, Curator of the Lux Print Collection.