Vertumnus en Pomona 1681 - 1726

"Vertumnus en Pomona" is an engraving by Gerard Valck, created around the late 17th to early 18th century and held at the Rijksmuseum. The print shows a scene dominated by the interplay of light and shadow, structuring the composition in a way that draws our eyes across the figures and the landscape. Note how Valck uses contrasting tones to define forms and create depth, enhancing the tactile sense of skin, fabric, and foliage. At the center, the embrace of Vertumnus and Pomona isn't just a narrative moment; it's a study in contrasts—the smoothness of skin against the roughness of the surrounding nature. This tension reflects broader themes of transformation and deception, central to the story of Vertumnus who transforms himself to win Pomona's affection. The statue and the cherubic fountain behind the pair add levels of meaning about the artificiality and playfulness in the lovers' interaction. The deliberate arrangement of elements and the tonal gradations serve as a reminder that art is a construction and a complex arrangement of signs.