The Bohemians: L'avant-garde c. 17th century

Curator: Jacques Callot, who lived from 1592 to 1635, is credited as the artist behind "The Bohemians: L'avant-garde," currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, my first impression is a troupe, a procession, a traveling story—a little bit madcap, a little bit melancholy. The details are delightful. Curator: The meticulous hatching certainly creates a dynamic texture, doesn't it? It draws the eye across the composition. Editor: Absolutely. The line quality gives it a restless energy, like a quick sketch capturing a fleeting moment, but the themes explored feel timeless. Curator: Indeed. The composition directs our reading of the figures; you can follow the line of the gaze from left to right. It is a very active picture. Editor: It makes you wonder where they are going and what they have seen. Is it a celebration or an exodus? Who knows, right? Curator: Well, that’s the fun of engaging with visual structures. Editor: It certainly is. The picture seems to have opened a new world and a new way of seeing.