De lykiske bønder forvandles til frøer 1700 - 1850

Curator: The title of this drawing is “The Lycian Peasants Transformed into Frogs.” It’s an anonymous work from somewhere between 1700 and 1850. The piece, housed here at the SMK, is a charcoal drawing that captures quite the dramatic scene. Editor: Dramatic indeed! My first thought is unease. The rendering of the figures—some seemingly already transforming, others wielding tools—combined with the looming presence of oversized frogs... It feels unsettling, charged. The restricted palette enhances the seriousness. Curator: The narrative pulls from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*. The Lycians, inhospitable and crude, refused water to Latona and her children. In punishment, she turned them into frogs. Consider how frogs are seen across cultures. Ancient Egyptians associated them with fertility, whereas in European folklore, they’re linked to witches and curses. The artist cleverly taps into this ambiguity. Editor: Semiotically, the figures are caught in an intriguing liminal state. They're neither fully human nor frog. Look at how the artist plays with light and shadow on the transforming limbs – a formal representation of their in-between existence. Curator: Absolutely. And the tools they carry hint at their former profession. The transformation speaks volumes about transgression and consequence—disrespect leading to a loss of humanity. Think about that concept recurring throughout mythology, how the human form symbolizes a contract, an expectation of proper behavior. Editor: I agree, the message is striking, but also quite cleverly composed! Look how the artist balanced the cluster of transforming figures on the left with the prominent frog on the right. It lends balance to this otherwise chaotic, rather baroque scene. Curator: It's fascinating how one drawing can encapsulate centuries of symbolic weight. What seems like a simple mythological scene blossoms into an exploration of cultural values. Editor: And to look at the details—the light, shading, and composition—that truly unlocks the image's inherent qualities and overall statement on transformation.