Der Herkulesknabe zerreißt die von Hera gesandten Schlangen 1732

Editor: So, this is Jacob de Wit's "Der Herkulesknabe zerreißt die von Hera gesandten Schlangen" from 1732, done in ink. It depicts a very…intense scene. It has this swirling energy but is also quite unsettling. What story does this ink drawing tell, and what strikes you most about de Wit's portrayal? Curator: Storytelling with ink, a Herculean feat, you might say! Look at the dynamism; it's practically leaping off the page! It reminds me of baroque theater, dramatic and full of bravado. The Hercules child is like a tiny force of nature, wouldn’t you agree? And Hera, she's not just angry; she's a tempest brewing in the heavens, fueled by divine jealousy! Notice how de Wit uses light and shadow; almost theatrical stage lighting. Ever felt like that wrangling your own serpents – deadlines, maybe? Editor: Definitely those deadline serpents! I didn't catch the theatrical lighting, but now that you mention it, the contrast really pops out. Is that the hallmark of Baroque? Curator: Absolutely! Baroque revels in contrast and dramatic gestures, remember Bernini’s sculptures practically pirouette into your soul! Think of it as visual opera; de Wit is painting with ink and staging a whole drama here! The loose sketching adds a dreamlike feeling; does it remind you of anything in particular? Editor: I get what you mean. This conversation totally reshaped how I saw that! Baroque drama, divine jealousy and lighting, and the reminder of Bernini! Curator: Exactly, what started as lines and shades unfolds, breathes, roars. Art, eh?