Fotoreproductie van de gravure Les couvreurs sur le toit before 1860

Curator: This captivating engraving, "Fotoreproductie van de gravure Les couvreurs sur le toit," was created before 1860 by Edmond Fierlants. The title translates to "Photographic reproduction of the engraving The Roofers on the Roof." Editor: Oh, my gosh! It looks like a scene from a medieval fairytale. But there’s also an unsettling quality to the composition that gives me the creeps. Is this some sort of angelic home improvement service? Curator: It does present a rather peculiar scene. Note the inclusion of angelic figures amidst earthly laborers. These roofers, hard at work, share the scene with divine beings ascending ladders— a rather striking juxtaposition, isn’t it? We have the grounded, tangible world overlapping the symbolic one. Editor: It totally flips the whole 'guardian angel' trope. Like, instead of just watching over, they are participating in the labor itself. And look at the figure seated reading—oblivious, or perhaps deeply connected to this blend of reality and the ethereal. I'm just saying... I would double-check their work. Are they up to code? I would hire a medieval home inspector pronto! Curator: Exactly! The seemingly mundane task of roof repair becomes imbued with deeper meaning, potentially referencing themes of divine assistance in human endeavors or a fusion of the earthly and spiritual realms. Angels were very busy at this time, so why not roof repair on their checklist. The iconography definitely leans into the allegorical possibilities prevalent in art from this era. Editor: Absolutely. It makes me wonder what "invisible" help we receive or offer to others. Maybe it's a call to recognize how even the most mundane tasks can take on spiritual weight when approached with care. And the style reminds me of, I don't know, a rough sketch, and gives it all that dreamy quality! Curator: A valid point, It is this attention to form that helps make such works enduring touchstones. It serves to expand our insight. Editor: Absolutely! Makes me want to try to fix things and seek celestial assistance!