Jupiter and Alcmene Medallion, Sketch for Decoration of a Frame 1907 - 1908

Here we have Theodore Roussel's sketch for a frame decoration depicting Jupiter and Alcmene, made using etching. The lines create depth, but it’s the kind of depth that feels more like a dream than a realistic space. Looking closely, the image isn’t about smooth, blended tones. Instead, it’s all about the marks – tiny, deliberate scratches that build up to create the image. See how the lines swarm to create the dark areas, like the shady parts of the foliage? Roussel coaxes his image into being, not with bold strokes, but a constellation of tiny marks. The radiating lines behind the figures almost look like a halo, but they also flatten the space. The whole piece feels like it’s playing with this push and pull, in and out, solid and void. Roussel reminds me of Whistler, another printmaker interested in the tonal possibilities of etching. But where Whistler sought to capture a fleeting moment, Roussel seems more interested in timeless myths. It’s a reminder that art’s not about answers, but about keeping the conversation going.