Portia, Wife of Brutus, Committing Suicide by Swallowing Live Coals c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Bellange’s etching, "Portia, Wife of Brutus, Committing Suicide by Swallowing Live Coals." It’s a rather grim subject, yet the woman seems almost serene. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Serene is a curious word for it, isn’t it? I mean, look at the theatricality of the gesture, the drama! Bellange wasn't just depicting death; he was staging a spectacle. It’s like he’s saying, “Tragedy can be beautiful, or at least visually arresting,” even with those…coals. Editor: So, it's less about the personal tragedy and more about the... performance of grief? Curator: Exactly! It's as if Bellange is winking at us, saying, "Don't forget, it’s all a show." A rather dark show, admittedly. Editor: I see it now! I was so focused on the sadness, I completely missed the performance aspect. Curator: Sometimes, the darkest stories are the most dazzling, no?