Le vray pourtraict de l'assemblee des Estats tenuz en la ville de Bloys au moys de Decembre, l'an mil cinq cens soixante & seize 1577

Editor: This print, “Le vray pourtraict de l'assemblee des Estats tenuz en la ville de Bloys au moys de Decembre, l'an mil cinq cens soixante & seize,” by Robert Le Mangnier, created in 1577, depicts a crowded assembly. The starkness of the black lines against the white paper creates an interesting contrast. What do you see in this piece from a formal perspective? Curator: From a formalist point of view, I am struck by the strategic deployment of line and space to create a sense of depth. Notice how the artist employs hatching and varying line weights to suggest volume and texture, even without the aid of color or shading as we typically understand it. Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't really noticed that! The varying line weights really do create definition and texture. It's such a simple technique, but it makes a big difference. Curator: Exactly. And the artist's use of perspective—how does that strike you? Consider its deviations from strict, mathematical accuracy. The artist opts for clarity in representing each figure, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes, you are right. Instead of vanishing points, the rows of figures seem stacked and flattened. I find it slightly awkward but at the same time helpful in cataloguing the members. Curator: Precisely! Function dictates form here. This divergence from pure representation towards strategic figuration reinforces its nature as a document rather than a pure aesthetic creation, yet the effectiveness in visualising the state assembly, from my perspective, provides a level of sophisticated artistry. Editor: This engraving, although seemingly straightforward, employs interesting techniques. It is no accident the work visualizes the political content with compositional tools. Curator: Yes, the medium is indeed part of the message. These observations make me look forward to looking at Le Mangnier's future prints and drawings with an extra formal perspective!