The drama, deception, and romance of Strauss’ Arabella occurs against the glamorous backdrop of a high-society ball. Before the broadcast of The Met: Live in HD’s presentation of Arabella, visit the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper to view a bustling, effervescent selection of prints, drawings, and photographs featuring parties, balls, and fêtes.

Image: Jean Louis Forain, The Ball (Madame Forain) (detail), c. 1880–1900, ink, watercolor, gouache, and pencil on paper. The Clark, 1955.1761