Facetious Inventions of Love and War c. 17th century

Editor: This is "Facetious Inventions of Love and War" by François Collignon. It’s an etching, and the caricature-like figure really jumps out at me. What symbols stand out to you in this work? Curator: The drum, first and foremost, is a potent symbol. It represents the call to arms, the rhythm of war. But look at the figure’s expression, a sort of grimace. Does it suggest a reluctant participant, or perhaps a critique of the glorification of conflict? Editor: I see what you mean. The expression complicates the drum's symbolism. Curator: Exactly! Collignon seems to be saying something deeper about the emotional toll and perhaps even absurdity of war. The feather in his cap, too, could symbolize vanity amidst the brutality. Editor: I hadn't considered the feather. Thanks for pointing out these nuances! Curator: It’s in details like these that artists embed cultural memory.