Broadside with 48 scenes relating to the unhappy lovers, or the miracle of the Virgin of the dove 1872

Editor: This is a broadside print by José María Marés, created in 1872. It’s titled "Broadside with 48 scenes relating to the unhappy lovers, or the miracle of the Virgin of the dove." It reminds me of a comic strip, with so many tiny sequential images, all rendered with fine detail. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The organization itself speaks volumes. This grid of images mimics a stained-glass window or even a devotional altarpiece, compressing a larger narrative into smaller, digestible moments. Note the visual repetition: the recurring figure of the Virgin becomes a symbol, almost like an ideogram, representing hope and divine intervention throughout this turbulent narrative. Where do you see recurring visual motifs, aside from the Virgin? Editor: Well, I noticed a lot of scenes with heightened emotions - arguing, kneeling, pleading... There are stark contrasts in these personal dramas played out. The dove also reappears in several scenes, often after these conflicts, perhaps suggesting resolution. Curator: Exactly! The dove acts as an intermediary, bridging the gap between human strife and divine mercy. The romantic style underscores emotional intensity, almost melodrama, connecting with popular narratives of the period. Considering the tumultuous period in Spanish history at this time, how do you think viewers in 1872 would have received such a charged iconography and theme? Editor: I would imagine that, beyond the specific story, viewers were drawn to how it offered not only spectacle and sensation but also a source of hope in times of uncertainty. The enduring motifs would also offer viewers something reassuring in the repetition. Curator: Precisely, its ability to connect visual elements to historical conditions solidifies how artistic images function to express not only continuity and cultural values but also transformation. Editor: It’s fascinating how a seemingly simple broadside can carry so much historical and emotional weight. Curator: Indeed, symbols are cultural anchors, continuously reshaping how a people remember and perceive.