Biddende Franciscus van Assisi met een open bijbel en crucifix 1862

Editor: Here we have Auguste Danse's engraving from 1862, titled "Praying Francis of Assisi with an open bible and crucifix." It's striking how still and reverent it feels, like a captured moment of intense devotion. What captures your attention when you look at it? Curator: The light, or rather the way Danse plays with shadow, it almost feels like St. Francis is emerging from a spiritual realm, doesn't it? And then you notice the almost photorealistic details in the rock and the book. Makes me wonder, was Danse grappling with the emergence of photography, trying to prove engraving could capture both realism and inner experience? Do you think that might be the case? Editor: It’s interesting you point that out, I was thinking more in terms of Romanticism, in the sense that it captures raw emotion in the figure, who is otherwise positioned in very realistic fashion? What about you? Curator: Absolutely. And Romanticism, particularly its fascination with spiritual intensity. You see that play out in his posture - head thrown back, eyes fixed on something we can't see, but clearly dictates the movement, that captures how overwhelming spiritual encounters could be represented visually, but is somehow very intimate too. It almost feels like a painting! I think the scale is particularly effective with the light and shading; but I was also very interested by the positioning and setting of the image. Where did you find it? Editor: I found it on the Rijksmuseum’s online database! It surprised me with its simplicity – in monochrome! Thank you for guiding me. I see a lot that I missed originally. Curator: And I hadn’t thought so explicitly about how the choice of monochrome helps concentrate the eye on form and emotion. Wonderful, isn’t it, how a conversation can open up new vistas even on a well-trod path.