Projet d'illustration pour Macbeth-13 

Curator: This is Luc-Olivier Merson's "Projet d'illustration pour Macbeth-13," a pencil sketch intended as an illustration for Shakespeare’s tragedy. Editor: The immediate impression is somber, even with the light strokes. The sketchy quality lends an urgency and rawness; it's a quick, perhaps desperate, visual note. The materials signal to me that this image may be process-based, as though this particular illustration sits within a much broader investigation. Curator: It definitely hints at process, doesn't it? And if we consider the narrative, Macbeth is a play steeped in dark symbols: blood, omens, prophecies. Merson’s visual language reduces the dramatic events to minimal lines, highlighting the tense body language. Notice the cloaked figure holding something square--almost like a portable icon of warning. Editor: The texture created through pencil is fascinating here. The building looming behind them has a different, denser application, suggesting a weight of history, literally grounding the action. It stands in contrast to the lightness of the foreground figures. I’m curious about paper choices, if there was intentionality here as to create varying degrees of receptiveness, which affects visual texture overall. Curator: I'm struck by the use of clothing and how Merson uses the period attire not only to place the scene in its historical setting, but as a tool for visual characterization and the power relations being played out in that era. It creates layers, much like the script itself. Editor: Absolutely, clothing is key to establishing a power dynamic! The way fabric falls, its texture even, speaks to wealth and status. It's never just clothing; it's also currency, so to speak, influencing visual weight. Think of a king's heavy cloak versus the humble fabrics of the peasant; both serve as critical information. Curator: Precisely! Ultimately, what lingers for me is Merson's skill in encapsulating the atmosphere of foreboding in just a few expertly placed lines. He successfully captures a powerful emotional landscape. Editor: For me, reflecting on the use of the materials and production methods deepens my insight. It contextualizes this piece not only as a narrative scene, but also a critical moment in the timeline of material studies. It feels less stage production, and more investigation based in tangible making.