The King of the Lestrigens Seizing One of the Companions of Ulysses 1805

Editor: This is John Flaxman's "The King of the Lestrigens Seizing One of the Companions of Ulysses." It's a striking image, the simple line work and stark subject matter create a brutal scene. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The materiality of Flaxman's work is key. Consider the process of printmaking, a relatively accessible medium at the time. How does the mass reproducibility influence our understanding of the classical themes depicted? The lines themselves speak to production, echoing industrial processes and challenging notions of unique artistic creation. Editor: That’s interesting! So, the *making* of the image is as important as the story it tells? Curator: Precisely. The starkness, the mass production, all reflect a changing social landscape and questions the elite status of high art. Editor: I never thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!