Junon c. 17th century

Editor: So, here we have "Junon," an etching from the 17th century by Stefano della Bella, currently at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. There's this relaxed goddess in a landscape. Her eyes and her pose seem wistful, thoughtful, and very Baroque in the swirling details. What leaps out at you? Curator: You know, I love how Bella captured that moment of introspection. Juno, queen of the gods, reduced to… pondering. Maybe about Jupiter’s latest fling! Look at the loose, almost frenetic, etching lines – see how they almost vibrate with a kind of anxious energy, even in her stillness? The landscape, even with the peacock, doesn't offer any real solace, does it? Editor: Not really. It feels a bit… stagey? The landscape is in the distance, a backdrop for her starring role. And the peacock seems almost like a prop. Curator: Exactly! And props were Bella's things - what looks at first glance like classic mythological symbolism is not too serious. The tiny figures on the pedestal at the left hint that he could design for theatre. Don't you just want to peek backstage? Where’s the drama going to happen? Editor: It makes me think differently about Baroque art. Not so much about pomp and grandeur but about using those elements to stage…human drama? Curator: Or perhaps the goddess' drama? Bella's talent lies in capturing emotions beneath those grand theatrical gestures. Do you feel a bit differently after this closer look? Editor: Absolutely. I am really seeing the narrative now. Curator: Good. When we dare to look beyond labels and history lessons, the stories become alive! It seems there is life lessons to be learned, not just historical trivia to be memorized.