Jupiter Hurling Thunderbolts at the Giants c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have Pietro Santi Bartoli's "Jupiter Hurling Thunderbolts at the Giants." Editor: What a flurry! It looks like a celestial battle, but all rendered in this incredibly dense, almost frantic line work. Curator: The engraving technique certainly lends itself to that sense of drama. Note the careful orchestration of light and shadow. Bartoli uses hatching to define the musculature of Jupiter and the terror on the giants’ faces. Editor: Right, and the materiality of the engraving itself speaks volumes. Imagine the labor involved in meticulously etching this plate. Curator: Precisely, that intricate line work creates a visual hierarchy, guiding our eye through the chaos of the scene, emphasizing the divine power at play. Editor: It's amazing to see how the tools and process shaped the overall feeling, a tangible record of skilled labor. Curator: Indeed, the very composition underscores Jupiter's authority. Editor: Well, looking closely at the means of its production really changes how I experience it. Curator: I'll be contemplating Bartoli's use of negative space, and how it lends weight to the drama, for some time.