Peleus vangt Thetis c. 1700

Editor: Here we have "Peleus vangt Thetis," an engraving by J. Alexander Janssens from around 1700. It’s, shall we say, intense! It looks like a wrestling match in the reeds, quite dramatic for something rendered so finely. What are your initial thoughts on it? Curator: Oh, drama indeed! To me, it's less about brute force and more about the desperation woven into the narrative. Look at the way Thetis writhes, almost like a flame trying to escape its confines. Janssens really captured that frantic energy. It's as if he’s saying love, even destined love, sometimes feels like capture, doesn't it? It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, what myths we’re enacting in our own lives without even realizing it? Editor: That’s an interesting take, love as capture! I was just thinking about the linear quality, very baroque, very…precise. I hadn’t considered the emotional intensity beyond the surface action. Curator: Right? It’s not just illustrative; it’s evocative. Janssens’ lines, though precise, aren’t cold. There’s a shivering quality, wouldn’t you say? As though the very act of engraving held some of the fear and longing of the myth itself. The way he's layered the strokes, particularly in the landscape… do you get a sense of a dreamscape about to morph into reality? Or perhaps, vice versa? Editor: I see what you mean. It's like the reeds are alive, participating in the struggle. All these fine strokes build up this swirling, turbulent sense. Thanks for helping me see beyond just the immediate figures! Curator: Absolutely! And it makes you wonder... what contemporary stories could we etch in a similar style today? Food for thought!