Facetious Inventions of Love and War c. 17th century

Curator: This is François Collignon’s print, “Facetious Inventions of Love and War,” currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is one of delightful absurdity. The exaggerated features of the central figure, combined with the almost slapstick weaponry, evoke a sense of playful satire. Curator: Indeed. The image resonates with the tradition of the grotesque in art, mocking militaristic bravado through caricature. We see the figure holding a poleaxe while other soldiers behind are at minuscule scale. Editor: And the title itself, linking love and war, suggests a commentary on the foolishness of both. The symbolic weight of weaponry, often associated with power, is subverted by the comical depiction. It reads almost like a warning against blind allegiance. Curator: It certainly invites consideration of how societal structures and the glorification of conflict are often undermined by the very human flaws of those in power. Editor: Looking at it, I feel a sense of timelessness in this playful critique. Curator: Absolutely, the print encourages us to question the narratives we construct around love and war. Editor: And to find humor, perhaps, in the face of the absurd.