Christ Taken in the Garden c. 17th century

Curator: Let's discuss Giovanni Battista Pasqualini's print, "Christ Taken in the Garden." Editor: What strikes me is the absolute tension in the etching—a very claustrophobic scene, yet Christ seems almost detached. Curator: Pasqualini, active in the early 17th century, was very interested in the material translation of artistic ideas, evidenced in his work for printmakers. Here, his skill is evident in the detailed rendering of textures. Editor: Those robes, for example. You can almost feel the coarseness of the fabric, juxtaposed against the smooth, almost ethereal quality of Christ's halo. Did he use different techniques for different effects, perhaps different needles or acids? Curator: Precisely! The etching process itself becomes part of the narrative, doesn't it? Each line, each mark, a tiny act of labor contributing to this moment of betrayal. And from that labor, emerges this striking contrast of violence and peace. Editor: The physicality of the scene, the labor of its making... it all adds weight to the story. I see process; I see the hand, and I imagine that hand struggling to bring this moment to life.