Title page of Dassoucy c. 17th century

Editor: This is Claude Mellan's title page for Dassoucy. It's incredibly detailed, all done with engraving, and has this playful, theatrical feel. I’m curious, how do you interpret all these figures? Curator: Well, my dear, doesn't it just tickle your fancy? Mellan, with his single line technique, manages to give us a whole world teetering between the classical and the whimsical. It's as if we're peeking into some satyr's daydream, where grapes turn to glory and the world’s a mere plaything. The central figures, those cheeky satyrs on the globe, seem to present a comedy scroll. Don't you think? Editor: That's a fun way to look at it. I hadn't thought of the figures presenting a scroll. Curator: Art is a looking glass, reflecting our own peculiar notions back at us. Mellan's wit encourages our own. What a delightful conversation!