Heer neemt afscheid van een dame 1841 - 1904

Curator: And now we find ourselves before “Heer neemt afscheid van een dame,” or "A Gentleman Taking Leave of a Lady," a print by Léopold Flameng, likely created between 1841 and 1904. The title is so wonderfully descriptive, isn’t it? What’s your initial reaction to the scene? Editor: Melancholy, instantly. There's such a rigid formality between these figures. The staircase acts as a physical barrier and echoes their emotional distance. Curator: You've zeroed in on that tension! Flameng’s engraving beautifully captures a very precise societal ritual. Notice the lighting. It almost spotlights the figures as they act out the conclusion of a conversation. You sense a great story between them. Editor: Absolutely! And the contrast! The deep etching creates this dramatic, almost theatrical stage. Look at the materiality: the cool, smooth stone against the lush folds of her gown—it’s pure textural contrast. It gives weight to the whole scene, not just spatially, but thematically, the formality is translated directly into its material qualities. Curator: Yes! I feel the print practically sings of bygone codes of conduct, and romantic intrigue too. Her fan is such a suggestive gesture. Does she close herself off, or is she demurely coquettish? His stance shows his respect but his expression almost pleads to her. Editor: It all suggests a narrative just out of reach, which perhaps enhances its artistic quality as it prompts the viewer to engage in semiotic deciphering. Curator: I agree, which makes it fascinating to ponder, right? As he bids her farewell does he think it might be permanent? I sense some tension between duty and the desires of the heart. It's the question the piece throws up. It makes me want to whisper to them "Don't go!" Editor: It’s interesting that these very fine and fragile print-lines work together to express this strong feeling of loss. That tension created between its materiality and expressive properties are wonderfully and delicately explored in this piece. Curator: Flameng was certainly a master of nuance. Each tiny line lends a depth to that silent narrative that speaks so clearly to us centuries later. It shows that engravings can say more than a thousand words.