Facetious Inventions of Love and War c. 17th century

Editor: So, this is François Collignon’s etching, "Facetious Inventions of Love and War." It's small, almost like a playing card, and the figures are… well, grotesque. What jumps out at you in this piece? Curator: Grotesque is perfect! It's like a fever dream of Bosch, isn't it? These aren't idealized forms, but caricatures. What do these exaggerated figures, caught between revelry and something darker, tell us about the artist’s view on, say, love and war? Editor: Maybe that love and war are ridiculous, or even monstrous? Curator: Precisely! Collignon offers us a funhouse mirror reflection of humanity. It's as if he's saying, "Look closely, this absurdity is us.” Editor: I guess even the "serious" stuff can be pretty silly if you look at it a certain way. Curator: Exactly! Perhaps Collignon’s laughter echoes our own anxieties. Food for thought, eh?