Copy after the Figurine c. 17th century

Curator: This print is entitled "Copy after the Figurine" by Salvator Rosa, a Baroque artist with ties to subversive theater. I find its energy quite compelling. Editor: The monochromatic sienna wash is stark, almost like looking at a blood orange under candlelight. How do the figures themselves strike you? Curator: Rosa was celebrated for his dramatic flair. He imbued his works with a sense of the theatrical, reflecting the tumultuous political atmosphere of his time. The gesturing figure reminds us that art can shape society. Editor: I see the gesture as compositional too. It thrusts the entire scene upwards, drawing the eye to the negative space above. Curator: Salvator Rosa surely hoped his art would make a difference, engaging the audiences of his time. Editor: It's this interplay of light, line, and form that lets this piece still speak to us centuries later.