Mercury, Herse and Aglauros 1729 - 1742

Editor: So, this print is "Mercury, Herse and Aglauros" by François Joullain. It looks like an illustration, maybe of a play? It's filled with classical figures. What's your take on this piece? Curator: It's fascinating, isn't it? Joullain’s print captures a theatrical moment. You see Mercury, winged helmet and all, caught mid-act, almost a stage director intervening in a scene of burgeoning love, or maybe mischief? The composition is intriguing, too, with the figures arranged like players on a stage, each frozen in their role. It almost feels as if the curtain has just risen. Editor: It’s like a snapshot from a myth! I didn’t notice how it felt like theater. Curator: Exactly! Art's funny like that, always whispering secrets. Editor: I guess there's more to prints than I thought. Curator: Always!