Titelprent met twee engelen en draperie 1679 - 1728

Curator: Ah, here we have a title print, dating from 1679 to 1728, entitled "Titelprent met twee engelen en draperie," or Title Page with Two Angels and Drapery, created by Jean-Baptiste de Poilly. A very elegant engraving, wouldn't you say? Editor: It feels like a whisper—delicate lines, muted tones. It makes me think of forgotten secrets and half-remembered dreams. So ornate, almost dizzying in its details, and there's a painter's palette—broken! That really speaks to me! Curator: Interesting! It’s an engraving, so naturally a printmaking process. The inscription on the drape essentially describes the making of drawings from life in the Académie by F. Verdier, then translated into print by de Poilly. A collaboration of artisanal labor! Editor: Right, the artisanal process itself. It’s beautiful how the labor intensifies the overall visual experience, the image of the academy filtered and processed into something so, well, precious. Do you think the image is making a statement on artifice, as much as it is the "real?" Curator: It does raise some key questions around reproduction and distribution of artistic knowledge, especially regarding access for aspiring artists outside royal circles. That fallen mask suggests to me the toppling of tradition. But I think this work affirms, as much as challenges, the structure. Editor: Mmm, tradition! Something is being covered, maybe, but at the same time, made to be looked at, to be revered? The angel has this curious, almost wry look... Curator: A common trope, of course—cherubic figures, drapery. But yes, a beautiful encapsulation of its period’s aesthetic. The means of production directly influence the work. A well-designed piece of artist promotion of this kind highlights its very consumption as something to admire and emulate! Editor: Agreed. I can definitely appreciate how materials can shape our interpretations! It adds such another layer. Thanks for opening my eyes! Curator: Anytime! Thinking about production enriches our perspective on this, and other, artworks!