Elisha Bringing the Blinded Syrian Army to the King of Israel 1613

Editor: This is Antonio Tempesta's "Elisha Bringing the Blinded Syrian Army to the King of Israel." It's quite a detailed print, and the composition seems very dynamic, almost theatrical. What do you see as the most compelling aspects of its visual structure? Curator: The density of the figures is remarkable. Tempesta masterfully uses line to create both texture and a sense of overwhelming mass. Note the contrast between the relatively clear foreground and the teeming background. How does this articulation of space guide your eye? Editor: I see it now! My eye definitely goes from the large figures in the front and then back into the city, but it's hard to focus on any one point because it's so busy. Curator: Precisely. The artist has created an implied depth by using changes in the strength of the lines. What did you learn? Editor: Paying attention to line weight and how that creates depth is something I'll be looking for in other prints. Thanks!