Curatorial Narrative The enigmatic “All be happy the boys are coming home march song and one-step” presents itself as a dichotomous entity, its Victorian sensibilities at odds with the Art Deco inclinations that would emerge in the following decades. Created in 1918, this anonymous work sits squarely within the tumultuous climate of the time, where the end of World War I cast a long shadow over the cultural landscape. The linear brushwork employed here imbues the piece with a sense of staccato urgency, as if the artist’s hand was driven by a feverish energy. Enlarged to an impressive 44×57 inches, this work takes on a commanding presence, its chromatic structure straddling the divide between calm and turbulence. The blue horizon line appears to stretch out before us like an unwinding ribbon, leading the viewer’s gaze into the depths of a seemingly tranquil seascape. Yet, upon closer inspection, the atmospheric weight of orange and