Curatorial Narrative “A king and a few dukes” by Anonymous occupies a pivotal position within the Art Deco canon, its creation dating to the tumultuous years of 1895-1911. The artist’s decision to work in this style suggests an engagement with the emerging Modernist project, which sought to reconcile tradition with innovation. The linear brushwork that defines “A king and a few dukes” is characteristic of the period, imbuing the piece with a sense of forward-thinking dynamism. The visual mechanics at play in “A king and a few dukes” are those of a carefully calibrated architectural study, its palette of red, black, and beige establishing a spatial rhythm that is both stately and restrained. As the image expands to 44×58 inches, the chromatic structure takes on a deeper atmospheric weight, with the dark tones grounding the composition while the red accents create a subtle sense of tension. This balance of light and shadow is crucia