Oedipus c. 18th century

Curator: Let's discuss this print by Pierre Chenu, simply titled "Oedipus." It's a miniature drama, isn't it? Editor: It does feel contained, like a scene viewed through a keyhole. The lines are so delicate, yet the moment is intensely dramatic. Curator: Chenu has used etching to convey a sense of turmoil, both in the figures' postures and the swirling background. Look at Oedipus, his arm outstretched, a gesture of command or perhaps denial. Editor: The composition is striking. The verticality of the column clashes with the horizontal figures at his feet, creating a visual tension. What do you make of the scale, though? Such a grand subject, rendered so small. Curator: Perhaps it's a commentary on fate. Even the grandest figures can be reduced by their destinies. It leaves you pondering the weight of prophecy, doesn't it? Editor: It does. There’s a power in its quiet intensity, a miniature stage for a tragedy that echoes through the ages.