Hoofd van een van de zonen van Laocoön, zijaanzicht 1672 - 1711

Editor: So, here we have “Head of one of the sons of Laocoön, side view” by Augustinus Terwesten, dating from 1672-1711. It’s an engraving, so lines upon lines. What strikes me most is the raw emotion – anguish, even – etched into the face. What do you see in it? Curator: Ah, yes, that anguish jumps right out, doesn't it? But for me, it whispers of something deeper, almost a theatrical drama frozen in time. It’s not just pain; it's the sublime agony of classical tragedy, bottled in Baroque aesthetics. Makes you wonder, what scream is eternally trapped in those expertly engraved lines, eh? Editor: Absolutely. There's something both powerful and restrained about it, considering the drama implied. Do you think that tension comes from its being based on an older sculpture? Curator: Good question. Terwesten probably studied the Laocoön group and other sculptures in Rome. This engraving lets us ponder that intersection of passion and control prized by classical and Baroque artists alike. Imagine sketching furiously after being wowed in the Vatican! Editor: That's a great image. The line work almost seems to vibrate, conveying all that emotion. Thanks for shedding light on it! Curator: My pleasure. The piece invites us to contemplate how artists borrow and transform over centuries. It makes me feel that art truly never dies, eh?