The Family of Darius at the Feet of Alexander, or The Tent of Darius 1661

Editor: This is Gérard Edelinck's engraving, "The Family of Darius at the Feet of Alexander." It's quite a detailed print, full of emotion. What strikes you about the imagery in this work? Curator: The tent, normally a place of refuge, becomes a stage for the surrender. Observe how Edelinck uses light; the figures are illuminated, drawing our eyes to their expressions of grief and supplication. What cultural memories are evoked by the figures at the feet of Alexander? Editor: It's interesting to consider the cultural implications of depicting defeated royalty this way, almost as a morality play. Curator: Indeed. It’s a visual embodiment of power dynamics, seen through a lens of 17th-century values. Editor: Thanks for the insight. I'll definitely look at engravings differently now.