Cupid and Psyche c. 18th century

Editor: So, this is Carlo Gregori's "Cupid and Psyche," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It has a very classical feel, like a rendering of a Greco-Roman sculpture. What strikes you about the composition? Curator: The linear precision is paramount. Observe how the engraver meticulously renders the texture of the stone and how the artist directs the eye to appreciate the interplay between light and shadow. It's a testament to the artist's control of line and form. How do you perceive the negative space around the figures? Editor: I didn’t think of that, but the emptiness really isolates the figures. The lack of context makes it feel very formal and timeless. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. And that deliberate emptiness forces us to engage with the fundamental essence of the figures themselves. A valuable lesson in reduction.