Two Grotesque Heads Facing One Another and Touching Tongues Within a Circle 1727

Curator: This etching by Gaetano Piccini from 1727, residing here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is entitled "Two Grotesque Heads Facing One Another and Touching Tongues Within a Circle." Quite a mouthful, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Totally. My initial impression is, “Yikes!” These are two funky-looking dudes, not gonna lie. They remind me of gargoyles, or maybe a bad dream I had after eating too much cheese. Curator: Well, dreams were certainly a source of inspiration during the Baroque period, a context out of which Piccini was creating his artworks, but I find these images fascinating, particularly the labor involved. He carefully built up layer upon layer of cross-hatching with incredible intricacy. What do you make of the lines? Editor: Yeah, the line work is pretty amazing when you actually focus on it. Almost obsessive, you know? But beyond the technique, they feel…confrontational? Like they’re daring you to look closer. I bet they saw some crazy stuff back then, whatever they are supposed to depict. Curator: Considering the social and cultural context of that time, it is hard to not wonder whether this sort of work might be regarded as borderline heretical back in its day. The grotesque was seen to have associations with what many would find to be evil, as well as crude and unusual artistic labor. Editor: Perhaps! It definitely makes me think about hidden desires. Aren’t tongues often linked to intimacy or speech? It's strange, touching, and somewhat unsettling. And that ornate tail swooping around the head of the other... Is this some kind of weird dance or ritual? It feels charged, even though I am seeing it centuries later. Curator: Well, such artworks had the power to create dialogues with viewers well into the future, like our present moment. From what kind of labor these prints involved to how they defy the tradition and cultural contexts of the era they originate from, their importance cannot be ignored. Editor: Agreed! Looking at it now, I find myself wanting to invent their backstory, which may be why such works endure through centuries. The texture, combined with such unsettling visages, is truly thought-provoking and strangely beautiful. Curator: Indeed. A curious glimpse into the complex human mind.