Jona 1575

Editor: We are looking at "Jona," a print created around 1575 by Johann Sadeler I, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It’s an intaglio, made with pen and engraving. The contrast between the detailed foreground and distant cityscape is quite striking, though I find myself drawn to the rather unsettling presence of what seems to be Jonah emerging from the whale’s mouth. How do you interpret this work from a formalist perspective? Curator: From a formalist vantage, we can observe that the engraving utilizes a very consistent hatching and cross-hatching technique, contributing significantly to the perception of depth and texture. Consider the positioning of Jona relative to the distant cityscape; notice how Sadeler used Jona's figure as a visual anchor, creating spatial dynamics. The formal elements of line, tone, and the calculated arrangement within the composition effectively convey the narrative. Do you perceive a deliberate structural organization in this print? Editor: I hadn't considered the spatial relationship in such detail, but I can now see how Jonah acts as this fulcrum that then projects into the deep space behind him. Do the lines around the border and the branches play a role too, containing the movement? Curator: Precisely. They are elements defining a frame. Each detail, from the figuration to landscape, is painstakingly crafted with precision, yet also a sense of deliberate distortion which serves to elevate the narrative. The interplay of the different elements guide our interpretation, drawing our focus to symbolic and narrative implications of the biblical theme. Editor: Thinking about line and space has really altered how I see it. I appreciate learning more about the relationship between the form and the narrative. Curator: Indeed. A close inspection unveils the sophistication through compositional ingenuity and refined linework. This type of analysis is core to the Formalist perspective.