Smart 1533 - 1567

Enea Vico created this engraving, "Smart," sometime between 1546 and 1567. At just 82 by 80 mm, the image is dominated by the figure of a distraught man, head in hands, with a ship tossed about on a stormy sea in the background, all rendered in stark monochrome. The composition directs our focus to the male nude, whose muscular form is meticulously detailed with fine, curved lines to create shadow and volume. The artist uses line to explore the themes of human suffering and the power of nature. The male nude represents ‘dolor’ and the turbulent ocean signifies external chaos reflecting his inner turmoil. The Latin inscription, "AFFLIGIT MENTEM FRVSTRA DOLOR OSSAq; RODIT" which translates to "Grief afflicts the mind in vain; grief gnaws at the bones", is a cultural code. It suggests a Stoic interpretation where suffering is fruitless. The artwork prompts questions about the Renaissance understanding of emotions and the human condition. It destabilizes the concept of emotional restraint.