Design for a Sleigh with a Mermaid Holding a Vessel with Fruit 1700 - 1800

Editor: Here we have an anonymous 18th-century drawing entitled "Design for a Sleigh with a Mermaid Holding a Vessel with Fruit", rendered in pencil. I'm struck by the fluidity of the lines and the overall ornate design. What do you see in this piece from a formal perspective? Curator: The compositional structure relies heavily on curvilinear forms. Notice the repetition of the 'S' curve throughout: in the sleigh's body, the mermaid's tail, even the cresting waves. This repetition creates a dynamic visual rhythm that leads the eye across the drawing. How do you read the tonal gradations achieved by the pencil? Editor: I see that the darker pencil strokes define the contours and give depth to the design, whereas the lighter shading provides volume. Are you saying this manipulation is more important than the subject matter? Curator: Indeed. While the iconography – the mermaid, the fruit vessel, the sleigh – speaks to a certain decorative excess of the Baroque, our focus lies on how these elements contribute to the drawing’s formal unity. The hatching and cross-hatching build up the form, adhering to the object depicted but foremost highlighting the skill involved in producing these textural contrasts. Editor: So, you are highlighting the formal elements and de-emphasizing narrative content? Curator: Precisely. Consider the tension created between the solid form of the sleigh and the ethereal quality of the mermaid. This tension, achieved through contrasting linework and tonal values, adds visual interest independent of its symbolic representation. Editor: I see that now. It’s the relationship between the lines and forms, rather than what they depict literally. Thank you for pointing out how the composition is so carefully calibrated! Curator: And thank you, your observation clarifies that formalism privileges this structured reading in our appreciation of the artwork.