Facetious Inventions of Love and War c. 17th century

Curator: This etching, attributed to François Collignon, bears the intriguing title Facetious Inventions of Love and War. Editor: My initial feeling? I'm struck by how the figures are rendered; they seem almost like caricatures, these bulbous, grotesque shapes. Curator: The print's dimensions are quite modest, only about 10 centimeters square, inviting closer inspection of Collignon's linework and technique. Given the title, could we consider the labor of etching as a facetious invention tied to both creative expression and commercial production? Editor: I like how you’re framing it. It does make me think about these tiny details, the stories embedded in these lines. They whisper of the artist's hand, the world he knew. Curator: And perhaps even the socio-economic context that shaped his subject matter and artistic choices. Editor: Absolutely. This little piece seems bigger now, more complex. Curator: Indeed.