Biblis Changing into a Fountain, from Ovid's Metamorphosis c. 18th century

Curator: This etching, titled "Biblis Changing into a Fountain," was created by Bernard Picart. Editor: It's a rather melancholic scene, rendered in fine lines, creating a sense of both delicacy and despair. Curator: Picart, active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, skillfully used etching to illustrate Ovid's Metamorphoses, exploring themes of transformation and human emotion. The reproductive labor involved in disseminating classical stories to wider audiences through printed media is also significant. Editor: The composition draws the eye to the figures contorted with grief, their bodies almost merging with the landscape, emphasizing their loss of self. Curator: Indeed, the landscape becomes a character here, reflecting the social and emotional turmoil experienced by Biblis, as it is transformed into a public fountain. Editor: Ultimately, it speaks to the power of form to convey profound emotional states through line, composition, and tone. Curator: And reminds us of the broader implications of transforming personal sorrow into public infrastructure.