H. Tarsilla en H. Emiliana 1565 - 1630

Curator: Oh, the symmetry of it! It’s all so linear, so… neat. The ladies seem very somber. Editor: Yes, this is "H. Tarsilla en H. Emiliana", an engraving, likely made sometime between 1565 and 1630, and now housed in the Rijksmuseum. The artist, Antonio Tempesta, has captured the figures with such… formality. Curator: Formality is a good word! Their robes seem to flow like liquid metal. But it is stark, isn't it? All those lines… very unforgiving. What do you think he wanted us to *feel*? Editor: These women, Tarsilla and Emiliana, were actually sisters of Pope Gregory the Great, celebrated for their piety and charity. Printmaking at this time allowed for a wider circulation of imagery, reinforcing religious and social norms, almost like early modern public service announcements. Curator: Ah, so it’s more of a symbol than…personal? They seem almost burdened. You know, it's strange how the linear style gives them an otherworldly quality, even while they’re grounded in a specific time and place. The line work is just fascinating, even though the poses are simple. Editor: Absolutely, the simplicity made it replicable. Think of the influence of these images circulating widely and shaping public perception! The technique echoes the artistic constraints but fulfills social functions by creating accessible, idealized figures for the masses. Curator: Well, even if the masses were meant to feel devotion, I think the artist slipped in a touch of human contemplation. The lines around their eyes… tiny windows. What an age; still so young as humans. Editor: Agreed! In many ways, engravings such as these helped lay the very foundations of how society visualized holiness. Curator: It is still intriguing.