The Madonna with SS. Catherine, Rose from Lima, and Agnes from Montepulciano 1763 - 1764

Curator: This is Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s etching, “The Madonna with SS. Catherine, Rose from Lima, and Agnes from Montepulciano," created between 1763 and 1764. It's currently part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection. Editor: The immediate feeling is dreamlike, even otherworldly. The composition has a very layered effect, creating an incredible sense of depth. What’s your take on the structure? Curator: Absolutely. Fragonard uses a kind of swirling, almost rococo dynamism. Note how the etched lines create a sense of movement that leads the eye around the composition. The light and shadow play a huge role in guiding us through the scene. It's a very active surface. Editor: There's so much embedded Christian iconography. Catherine, Rose, and Agnes were all known for their devotion. Their presence reinforces the themes of piety and spiritual grace centered on the Virgin. The entire history of Catholicism in one etching! Curator: And yet, consider the ambiguity of it. He does not depict easily readable symbolism. The symbolic communication leans on the relationships between line, space, form. Editor: That's fair. Speaking of relationships, I notice that all of these figures are connected visually—gestures and gazes link them, as do similar textures in the drapery that soften transitions within this landscape, joining what might otherwise fragment the image. What effect might Fragonard sought from doing so? Curator: These connecting motifs support an overall fluidity and emphasize continuity. They allow us to read through each layer and understand each component without isolating a particular reading. Editor: Indeed, it underscores a devotional, historical connection. Considering its themes and its ethereal quality, this print feels both universal and deeply intimate. Thanks for walking me through this amazing artwork. Curator: My pleasure. It highlights, to me, the complex interrelation between representation and abstract structural language.