Title, L'Oeuvre d'Antoine Watteau, Peintre du Roy c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have the title page from "L'Oeuvre d'Antoine Watteau, Peintre du Roy" engraved by François Baillieul. It's at the Harvard Art Museums and the sheet measures about 62 by 46 centimeters. Editor: Wow, it feels so ornate, almost like a baroque invitation to a secret society. All those elegant swirls framing the text... Curator: Exactly! It's a celebration of Watteau's work, meticulously reproduced and presented. Think of the care taken to capture his spirit! Editor: I wonder about the choice of typeface; it speaks of refinement, yet the execution feels more controlled than Watteau's loose brushstrokes. Curator: Perhaps Baillieul sought a different form of admiration, focusing on structure instead of raw emotion. It's a tribute, not a mimicry. Editor: I suppose so. It makes me want to find the art beyond this page, to feel the real Watteau magic. Curator: Indeed, and maybe that's the point; a beautiful doorway to explore the original works.