Choleric Temperament c. 1530 - 1562

Curator: Virgil Solis gives us this engraving called "Choleric Temperament," created sometime between 1530 and 1562. It's currently residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Well, right off the bat, the image seethes. There's such constrained energy in the linework, that it's about to blow up like the heart pierced with an arrow in the foreground. Curator: Indeed, that dynamism arises from the complex allegorical layering. The figure, identified as Cholericus above, holds a torch, a visual marker of wrath and destructive fervor. Note how her steely gaze mirrors the eagle’s. Editor: The eagle perched there adds a dimension of regal menace, almost like she's a classical fury with a dangerous familiar. I find myself oddly attracted to its gaze... almost frightening. Curator: Precisely, and the lion beneath, typically a symbol of courage, is rendered rather passively, subdued even. Consider Solis' mastery of line; its density shapes form and conveys meaning with impressive clarity and emotional potency. The etching exemplifies Mannerist stylistic elements. Editor: The artist’s signature, almost like a little explosion at the bottom left, speaks volumes. The swirling flames lick at her robes as this Cholericus exudes a controlled blaze, as if to suggest temper itself is an element one can skillfully harness. Curator: A nuanced observation! Indeed, Solis, known for his precise engravings, encapsulates a controlled, refined, yet simmering chaos through studied formal devices like the tightly woven hatching and counterpoised elements of classical symbolism. Editor: Seeing how Solis manages to distill such complex passions into neat little lines still inspires. There's so much volatile emotion frozen in these delicate curves. Curator: Yes, it makes the work not just visually intriguing, but a profound study of emotion rendered through deliberate artistic choices.