Euadne 1620 - 1664

Editor: Here we have "Euadne," an etching by Stefano della Bella, created sometime between 1620 and 1664. It depicts a woman stepping into a large fire. I’m immediately struck by the intensity of the scene; it’s a really dramatic moment, full of sorrow and, oddly, resolve. What emotions or narratives do you see playing out here? Curator: Oh, my dear, I see a swan song, a heart's fiery whisper. The crisp lines of the etching, they don't just show us a scene; they hint at the tumultuous Baroque spirit – think drama, think passion, and maybe just a dash of the absurd. Look at Euadne, practically dancing into that inferno! It’s operatic, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely, operatic is a great way to describe it. But isn’t there something unsettling about the elegance, given the context? Curator: Ah, that delicious tension is the Bella’s special sauce, isn’t it? See, he hands you tragedy on a silver platter, all exquisitely detailed flames and graceful posture. We know she is walking into a burning pyre after her husband’s death, which makes the ‘bonne femme’ inscription even more heartbreaking and a bit ironic, really. But does that elegance somehow *cheapen* the grief? Or does it elevate her devotion? I think both can be true simultaneously! Editor: I think I get that – it makes you consider the different ways of facing grief. Curator: Precisely! This tiny etching is an invitation to imagine an ocean of conflicting feelings… plus, the delicious scent of woodsmoke, maybe? No? Just me? Anyway, isn't that so Baroque? Editor: It's definitely more complex than I initially thought. I’ll look at Baroque art a bit differently now. Thanks! Curator: My sweet child, that's the spark. Fan that flame, now!