Diploma of the Freemasons of Bordeaux 1700 - 1770

Editor: We’re looking at “Diploma of the Freemasons of Bordeaux,” a print or drawing in ink, made sometime between 1700 and 1770. The artist credited is Francois Boucher. It’s overwhelmingly grey, filled with allegorical figures, and…dare I say, rather Baroque! I find the scene sort of dreamy, but also opaque in its meaning. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Dreamy is a good word! For me, it’s like peeking into someone else’s very ornate dream, one packed with symbolism and secret meanings! Think about it, this is a Freemason diploma, practically an invitation into an exclusive world. That’s what that veiled allegory speaks to. There is both revelation and obscuration here; look at how some details are crystal clear and others fade back into a moody cloud. Tell me, what words are featured within this visual scheme? Editor: I see “TENEBRAS” up near the top and something like "POSE DE L’AMITIE" running down the side near a throng of cherubs...darkness, and, um, the position of friendship, maybe? Curator: Spot on. It's like a play on light and dark, secrecy and brotherhood, all swirling together. Boucher uses ink and wash to create this very ethereal effect. I find myself wondering about the recipient of the diploma, what they made of all this visual language! The almost absurd levels of cherubic behavior also fascinate. Are they emblems, jokes, simple figures of speech or...? Editor: Now that you point it out, it really is packed with contradictory ideas! What at first seemed like a pretty, classical scene has all these hidden, complex elements bubbling underneath. Curator: Absolutely. And that’s often the magic, isn't it? Layers of meaning, waiting to be discovered. I think this artwork challenges us to look beyond the surface, to consider the context and intentions behind its creation. And perhaps a touch of whimsy never hurts. Editor: I’ll definitely approach these older works differently now, keeping my eyes peeled for those hidden layers! Thanks!