Loves of the Gods 1686 - 1704

Editor: Here we have "Loves of the Gods," an engraving that dates from sometime between 1686 and 1704. There's something ethereal about the scene, the lines are so delicate yet full of movement. What catches your eye in this work? Curator: Formally, the engraving is a masterclass in Baroque dynamism. Note how the artist employs contrasting densities of line to create depth and luminosity. The diagonal composition, anchored by the reclining figure on the left, surges upwards toward the god in the heavens. This directs our gaze along a path of escalating visual intensity. Editor: That's a good point. It almost feels as if the light itself is radiating outwards from the god. Is that deliberate, do you think? Curator: The radiating lines function both literally, suggesting divine light, and formally, directing our perception. Consider how the texture shifts from the more closely hatched areas defining the reclining figure, to the explosive bursts around the god. Editor: It’s amazing how much drama and scale can be created with such simple linear work. I really love how it makes the figures really glow, while still remaining classical. Curator: Exactly. The artist wields line not just to delineate forms, but to manipulate our perception, creating a visual drama that is palpable. What does that contrast, tell you? Editor: Thinking about it formally makes the intention behind the art seem very powerful, and I love that. It has certainly changed how I see the image.