Sellenger 1917 - 1922

Editor: This etching, "Sellenger" by F.L. Griggs, created between 1917 and 1922, has a striking dreamlike quality. The sharp detail in the architecture contrasting with the soft rendering of the sky. How do you interpret the symbolism in this piece? Curator: This is quite evocative, isn't it? The scene itself seems to be constructed from an imagined past. The figure, perhaps a monk or a pilgrim, stands at the intersection of the sacred space of the church and the domesticity of the vine-covered cottage. It's about the dialogue between spiritual aspiration and earthly existence. Consider also the artist’s choice to render the scene as an etching, an act of engraving history into metal itself. Editor: I hadn’t thought of the technique as a kind of statement. It definitely adds to the weightiness. Curator: Exactly! And look closer at the architecture – it’s almost overly gothic, a pastiche of styles. Do you notice how the church, although grand, appears to be partially dissolving in the light? It reflects a sense of the past fading, becoming more legend than reality. The figure then becomes more intriguing; are they seeking refuge in the church or venturing out into the world? Editor: That’s a fascinating point. The ambiguity makes the image all the more compelling. I see how he’s contrasting the temporal and the eternal. Curator: Indeed. Griggs is inviting us to reflect on our place within that continuum. Are we pilgrims on a journey, or are we rooted in the earthly realm? Editor: I'm really starting to appreciate the layers of meaning within the artwork. The composition, with its carefully chosen symbols, tells such a multi-layered story. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. And perhaps the real power lies not in finding a definitive answer but in continuing to ask the questions.