Touch 1617 - 1618

Curator: So, we’re looking at Peter Paul Rubens' painting, "Touch," completed sometime between 1617 and 1618. Editor: Woah. My first thought? Claustrophobia. It feels like every inch of the canvas is exploding with detail. But there’s something kinda soothing about it too... Like finding order in chaos, you know? Curator: That's a great observation. Indeed, this piece is jam-packed with symbolic elements, ripe for intersectional readings, especially around power and sensuality. The allegory hinges, in part, on the subjugation of warfare by gentler senses. Editor: "Subjugation" is a heavy word, but yeah, there's definitely a vibe shift. On one side, we’ve got the cold, hard steel of the armor and weaponry – such meticulous rendering, wow - almost spilling off the left side and then, over on the right, there’s this almost...lush sensuality. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the strategic positioning of Venus and Cupid on the right side of the work, intertwined together. We might unpack its significance when viewed alongside other mythological depictions of the mother-son bond within the historical context of war. The choice of presenting the 'Touch' can be considered a bold move during the Counter-Reformation. Editor: Right! Venus with her lil’ cherub… so soft. The artist did an amazing job of capturing the sweetness of maternal touch through color alone. Like it seems like she’s kinda turning away from all the warfare. Curator: Exactly, by interweaving symbols of violence and nurture, it becomes less about one simple allegorical message and more about exploring power dynamics and perhaps even highlighting how societal structures often require an ongoing tension to reinforce each other. The male is the world of warfare, as you notice in other paintings of Rubens, women, sensuality. Editor: Oh man. I am left here thinking: that one, little, human gesture just seems so powerful when put against all that hardware! I mean, art, huh? So great. Curator: Agreed. "Touch," through Rubens' careful placement and use of allegory, serves as a powerful and ongoing narrative that allows different eras to interpret from diverse points of reference.