Schilderkunst 1663 - 1738

Editor: We're looking at "Schilderkunst", an engraving from sometime between 1663 and 1738, attributed to Jacques-Antoine Friquet de Vauroze. I am immediately drawn to the circular composition and how the artist directs your eye through the scene. What is your interpretation of the visual arrangement here? Curator: The circular format certainly isolates the scene, compelling us to examine the formal relationships. Note how the artist utilizes a balance of line and mass to achieve a sense of classical harmony. The eye is drawn to the contrast between the curves of the model and the straight lines defining the architecture and easel. How might these shapes affect the interpretation of the artist’s purpose? Editor: I see, it’s almost like the lines direct us to think about what the artist is depicting and doing… Almost making the subject and its representation work in tandem? Curator: Precisely. Consider the treatment of light and shadow, and how they define the forms within the image. Notice that while this work lacks color, its texture creates a stark sense of the aesthetic representation itself. Is there anything you might infer about the artist from their choices here? Editor: I suppose the classical forms indicate a certain level of formal skill… the contrast and detail speak to a desire for a specific aesthetic, something beyond the subject matter itself. Thank you, I wouldn’t have appreciated these intrinsic qualities without your perspective. Curator: Indeed, a close analysis allows us to observe not just what is represented but the principles governing that representation. Seeing art in this manner offers endless insight into the work.