Vertumnus and Pomona c. 17th century

Curator: This is Richard van Orley's "Vertumnus and Pomona." Editor: Oh, it feels like stepping into a dream! All those delicate lines create such a lush, almost theatrical space. Curator: Van Orley, born in 1663, demonstrates the engraver’s craft—how the manipulation of line becomes its own form of materiality. Editor: Right! And I love how the artist renders the texture of leaves and fabric, all with these tiny marks. The labor is palpable. It makes me think about the relationship between the gods and mortals in this scene, this gift of art. It's pretty romantic when you think about it. Curator: The figures and the classical architecture seem to emerge from the garden. It blurs the lines between nature and artifice, reflecting the social elite’s desire to manage nature. Editor: It’s funny, though, that the strict control feels more like a wild, untamed abundance. I think that tension is why it's so captivating! Curator: Yes, this piece reveals how cultural ideas about beauty and control manifest in art’s production. Editor: What a lovely thought to carry with me.