Two nude children eating grapes; from New Book of Children 1720 - 1760

Editor: We're looking at "Two nude children eating grapes; from New Book of Children", an engraving made sometime between 1720 and 1760. The artist is Pierre Alexandre Aveline, and it's a simple drawing, just lines really, yet so detailed. What jumps out to me is the division of the picture into two scenes – one of a child luxuriating, and the other seeming to struggle. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Formally, the stark division of the pictorial plane immediately arrests our attention. Consider the deliberate contrast. On the left, we have the seated child, immersed in the tactile and gustatory sensation of consuming grapes. Conversely, on the right, the child struggles against a harsh vertical edge, seemingly imprisoned. How do the differing textures, created through varying densities of hatching, contribute to the narrative tension? Editor: I see it. The left side has more cross-hatching creating deeper shadows, emphasizing roundness, pleasure, and maybe even a bit of indulgence. The right side is flatter, emphasizing angularity. The child looks almost trapped. Is that what you mean by 'narrative tension?' Curator: Precisely. Aveline masterfully employs line and shadow to create not just form, but also an implied story, a duality of human experience. What thoughts do you have about the medium informing the content, since we are examining an engraving? Editor: The precision! You can't smudge a line; everything has to be carefully etched. So there's control here, an intention behind every stroke. Do you think that the restriction makes this artwork more powerful in some ways? Curator: Indubitably. The limitations of the engraving technique necessitate a calculated approach, amplifying the visual impact of each line. We've discussed structure and contrast and materiality. In considering those aspects, and I would add medium into this category, the viewer is capable of developing insight into the content of a work like Aveline's engraving. Editor: That was enlightening, considering the basic elements creates a whole story! I'll look at engravings in a new light from now on!