Vrede 1533 - 1567

Curator: Here we have Enea Vico's "Vrede," an engraving likely made between 1533 and 1567, currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's fascinating how much detail is captured in this print! I'm immediately struck by the contrast between the serene woman on the chariot and the discarded weapons beneath. What compositional elements draw your eye? Curator: The visual hierarchy is meticulously constructed. Note how the lines direct our gaze from the recumbent armor and weaponry in the foreground upward, tracing the controlled pull of the chariot to the seated figure, embodying Pax, or Peace. Her upward gaze meets the landscape behind, drawing the eye in to a larger view. The text above acts as a frame, focusing on these same elements again. What is especially important to note is how Vico manages to create such texture. Notice the gradations of tone and the clear attention given to patterns. The eye dances through these layers. Editor: So, it's less about what the objects represent and more about how they guide our vision through the piece? Curator: Precisely. Consider the interplay of light and shadow created by Vico's linear technique. Do you see how that affects your perception of form and space within this two-dimensional medium? Note that no colours or added hues exist. It is all about tone, the distribution of values to add definition. Editor: That’s a great point. I hadn't really thought about how the absence of colour forces you to appreciate the lines and values so much more. Is this focus on form and composition typical of engravings from that era? Curator: It's a characteristic feature, certainly. The challenge for the artist lay in harnessing the intrinsic qualities of the medium—line, tone, texture—to convey meaning. Did the discussion today challenge or influence your impression of the work? Editor: It definitely did. I now see how Vico uses the formal elements to convey its message of peace triumphing over conflict in a clever manner!