Design: Figure from Encyclopédie 1762 - 1777

Editor: Here we have Benoit Louis Prevost's "Design: Figure from Encyclopédie," created between 1762 and 1777. It's an engraving and etching on paper. I'm struck by the figure's pose; it's almost confrontational yet vulnerable at the same time. What catches your eye about this work? Curator: The articulation of form through line and the manipulation of light and shadow are primary. Note the subtle variations in the hatching which delineate musculature and suggest depth. How would you describe the figure's relationship to the picture plane? Editor: I see the figure placed centrally, almost isolated by the negative space around it, making the body itself the sole subject. The artist obviously directs my gaze to study the figure’s physique, line, form and shape. What would you add? Curator: Precisely. The engraver’s meticulous approach translates into a formal exercise. We can see Academic artistic conventions at play in how the subject’s anatomy, while slightly abstracted, echoes ideals of Neoclassical order through careful study of shape and light. Consider how line weight impacts your perception of volume; where do you see effective use of contrast? Editor: It looks like he or she places the contrast across the back and upper leg areas to accentuate the muscle and create the form we’re examining. I guess I didn’t expect to find so much to appreciate from something created as a guide! Curator: It's a testament to the power of line and form, isn't it? The purely formal reading provides access to consider Academic intent and process. Editor: I’m now thinking differently about the plates within encyclopedias; they can offer insight into not just the subject matter, but artistic style. Curator: Exactly. It proves rewarding to carefully investigate the formal and technical aspects of artwork across genres and types.