Perseus and Andromeda c. 1695

Curator: Oh, I'm immediately drawn to the chaotic energy of this sketch. Is that Andromeda chained to the rock? The sheer vulnerability and terror are almost palpable. Editor: Yes, this is Antoine Coypel’s “Perseus and Andromeda,” held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a graphite drawing on paper, measuring just under 7 by 6 and a half inches. Curator: It feels like a glimpse into the artist's mind, the first spark of an idea. I adore the raw, unfinished quality. It’s as though we're witnessing the myth being born anew, right before our eyes. Editor: You know, when I look at the swift, sure lines, it makes me think about the labor involved. Graphite allows for corrections, but there’s a confidence here, a sense of Coypel quickly capturing the scene before it fades. Curator: Absolutely, the drama leaps off the page! I can almost hear the monster's roar and Andromeda's cries. Though small, the composition captures the entire emotional landscape. Editor: It's fascinating to consider how Coypel might have viewed Andromeda's vulnerability through the lens of his time—the politics of display, the expectations placed upon women. Curator: I’ll admit, I was swept away by the romance. Editor: There's room for both, isn't there? That's what makes art like this so enduring.