Amor en Psyche 1732 - 1799

Editor: Here we have Adam Friedrich Oeser's "Amor en Psyche," dating from 1732 to 1799. It's a drawing, a pencil sketch on paper. The mood is dramatic, with a clear contrast between light and shadow. What do you see in this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: Formally, the drawing presents a compelling study in contrasting textures. The soft, almost blurred rendering of Psyche's sleeping form is set against the more defined lines of Amor. Note also how Oeser uses the fall of light to structure the scene. The illuminated figure acts as a focal point, leading the eye across the composition. The engraving seems almost to be concerned more with a balance in texture than anything. Do you notice the symbolic relation of the objects depicted and the structural weight within the composition? Editor: I see what you mean about the balance and the texture. The sharper lines on Amor and the drapery draw my attention first. How does the artist use this play of light and shadow, and the textures, to convey the narrative? Curator: Oeser uses chiaroscuro not only to model the figures but also to heighten the drama inherent in the scene. The stark contrast pulls Amor out of what would have otherwise been an inconsequential planar backdrop, highlighting Psyche’s vulnerability. Can we thus view light as an element that emphasizes specific facets of the composition and helps reveal the relationship in texture and emotionality here, that between soft skin, the feathered wings, and drapery, all illuminated unevenly? Editor: I see that now; it brings another layer to the drama of the subject. The use of different line weights helps, too. This reading brings an added layer to the myth. Curator: Precisely. And notice how all aspects can lead to enhanced insight into the composition's purpose. Hopefully we learn here of structure in the art and beyond the content presented by myth.