Bloemenstudie met vlinder 1801

Editor: This is "Bloemenstudie met vlinder," or "Flower Study with Butterfly," from 1801, an engraving by Willem van Leen. The detail is incredible! It’s hard to believe this level of delicacy can be achieved with engraving. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: Initially, the stark linearity captures my attention. Note how the composition’s effectiveness rests not upon mimetic accuracy, but on the considered arrangement of lines. Look, for example, at how van Leen has varied the line weights to suggest depth, bringing certain elements forward while pushing others back into the picture plane. It is all a flat surface. Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. The varying thickness of the lines does create a sort of illusion. Is the butterfly symbolic, or simply an aesthetic addition? Curator: Whether the butterfly operates as a symbolic signifier is ultimately tangential. Formalism prioritizes internal relationships. The butterfly *functions* as a compositional element; notice how it mirrors the curve of the leaves, and also directs the gaze toward the text beneath the botanical image. That use of line gives shape to the empty space of the page, while giving added definition to what is drawn upon it. It is essentially, then, about formal values. Editor: I see. So, less about what the butterfly *means* and more about how its shape contributes to the overall design? Curator: Precisely. Focus instead on the relation between line and form. Editor: That is very helpful; focusing on the technique allows me to look at the artwork in new ways. Thanks. Curator: And by understanding what something is *doing*, its design and how it makes use of its chosen media, we can see an artwork’s inherent qualities.