Titans Storming Mount Olympus c. 1770 - 1772

Curator: This drawing, made circa 1770 to 1772, is Henry Fuseli’s “Titans Storming Mount Olympus.” It employs pen, pencil, ink, chalk, and charcoal on paper and is currently located here at the Art Institute of Chicago. What strikes you first? Editor: Chaos. A raw, visceral energy. The stark contrasts, the contorted figures, it feels almost… violent. You can almost hear the clash of metal on stone. Curator: Fuseli’s approach to classical subjects was anything but academic. He came of age during a period where public commissions for history paintings dwindled; instead, his work became tied to the rise of independently organized art exhibitions with strong commercial incentives. It was really about dramatic spectacle. Editor: And he achieves it. The very idea of the Titans resonates with a primal power—the overthrow of the old order, the struggle against the gods. See how he uses light and shadow? It's not just illumination; it is expressive. The strong contrast between the pale Titans and the darker backdrop of what I assume is Mount Olympus reinforces the mood of dread. Curator: He positions us, the viewers, at ground level, looking up at the massive scale of this mythic war. And Fuseli clearly draws on sources from the ancient world, given its dramatic subject matter. But it also clearly engages contemporary political turmoil and the debates about revolutionary change brewing in Europe at this time. Editor: Revolution isn't just political; it's psychological. It's a breakdown of old structures and a wrestling with archetypal figures. Fuseli taps into a collective memory, a feeling of societal unrest that transcends the immediate politics of his time. The very roughness of the sketch feels intentional, not a study, but a fully realized cry for change. Curator: Fuseli wasn’t always embraced by the art establishment. He gained greater attention by participating in alternative spaces and carving out a niche as a rebellious counter-figure, rather than catering to established tastes of wealthy patrons and governmental bodies. Editor: This drawing embodies a potent mixture of dread, hope, and raw, untamed power. Its enduring relevance resides in the perennial nature of the revolt. Curator: Indeed. He channels these ideas so effectively. Editor: The Titans will always be rising…