Robbery of Adonis c. 18th century

Curator: This is "Robbery of Adonis" by Giovanni Volpato. Look at the figures scattered across the foreground; what strikes you? Editor: The almost mournful grayscale. It makes the rough textures of the forest stand out, contrasting with the smoothness of the bodies. Curator: Volpato, active in the late 18th century, would have been part of a broader artistic interest in classical mythology and its reinterpretation. Editor: The choice of the printmaking process is so interesting. The lines create a network of labor, transforming an ideal into a consumable object. Curator: Absolutely, these prints circulated widely, shaping public understanding of classical stories and even morality. Editor: Indeed, the materiality informs the message, bringing the idealized mythos into the realm of everyday consumption and socio-cultural discourse. Curator: It is interesting to think about how such works shape the tastes of the public. Editor: True, and how the mode of production itself contributes to the work’s reception.