Mercurius in gesprek met Argus 1621

Curator: Here we have "Mercury in conversation with Argus" a print made around 1621 by Moyses van Wtenbrouck. The work shows Mercury with Argus. What’s your initial impression? Editor: My eye is drawn immediately to the density of the hatching. It's quite remarkable. And also, strangely still. Curator: This stillness really resonates if you know the story. The engraving depicts the climax of a tale where Mercury, sent by Jupiter to slay Argus and free Io, lulls the hundred-eyed giant to sleep with music and stories. Editor: The visual weight certainly underscores that dramatic tension. You have this tranquil scene—almost pastoral, but the very high contrast in tone achieved through the etching and engraving speaks to that hidden violence you’re referencing. Curator: The choice of representing this particular moment emphasizes deception and the potent power of language. Mercury isn't depicted with overtly aggressive symbols, it’s all veiled behind conversation and bucolic settings. The figure of Argus almost melts into the tree behind. The viewer is drawn to look at Mercury, not the victim. Editor: Indeed, and in doing so, highlights Mercury's poised demeanor. The lines describing his garment flow in parallel with the donkey's musculature, there's a dynamic connection, and almost no intersection between Argus and Mercury or the animal, setting Argus further apart. Curator: Right, even the seemingly innocuous donkey acquires significance as a symbol of foolishness—a representation of Argus succumbing to Mercury's trickery. Wtenbrouck’s work is rich in cultural memory here, a continuity that persists even today regarding the seduction of narrative and artifice. Editor: Absolutely. The material elements mirror that trickery; in one sense we have a straightforward illustration, but on another level, through its density and stark contrasts, it offers a far richer experience. I appreciate how we've peeled back its layers today.