Facetious Inventions of Love and War c. 17th century

Curator: This etching, held at the Harvard Art Museums, is entitled "Facetious Inventions of Love and War" by François Collignon. Editor: The figure looks comical, almost theatrical, posed with his oversized hat and musket amidst such stark scenery. Curator: Indeed, Collignon seems to be playing with the visual language of military prowess. Notice the exaggerated stance, perhaps mocking the bravado associated with warfare during his era. Editor: The smoke from the fired musket is like a fleeting thought, a puff of ego. The distant figures seem indifferent to the drama, like love's casualties already forgotten. Curator: The print is rather small, lending itself to private contemplation. It invites us to question the public performance of conflict and its impact on individual lives. Editor: A reminder that even in conflict, there's a peculiar dance of attraction and repulsion, a dark humor at play. Curator: Very true, it seems Collignon uses irony to illuminate the timeless, often absurd, relationship between love and war. Editor: I leave this piece pondering about the battles we choose, both on the battlefield and within the heart.