Jupiter and Alcmene Medallion, Sketch for Decoration of a Frame 1907 - 1908

This sketch for a frame decoration by Theodore Roussel shows us Jupiter and Alcmene in monochromatic harmony. The image emerges from the scratching of the plate, a slow reveal, like dawn. You can see it in the Art Institute of Chicago. I imagine Roussel hunched over the plate, pulling lines into being. I feel for him, coaxing an image into being bit by bit! It looks like he's trying to conjure a feeling more than describe the scene. Just look at the way the radiant lines of light are scratched and etched into the plate! You can almost feel the heat of the godly embrace. Roussel, Whistler, all those guys were in constant dialogue. Each piece is an iteration in an ongoing exchange of ideas and visual forms. Painting and printmaking are just like that, a conversation across time and space! Each artist takes something from those who came before and adds their own spin. It’s exciting to imagine all these connections and shared energies.