Bas-reliëf met twee paren op een ligbank 1636 - 1647

Editor: Here we have Valérien Regnard's "Bas-relief with two couples on a couch," an engraving from sometime between 1636 and 1647. The use of line is so intriguing here, giving texture and shadow to the figures and drapery. It feels classical in its composition, but I'm wondering what stands out to you? Curator: Focusing on its formal aspects, observe how the linear precision defines forms, almost sculpting them through contrasting tonal values. Note the strategic placement of figures which dictates a narrative reading, from left to right. Editor: So you are less focused on the figures and what they might represent, and more on how the lines create them and interact with the negative space around them? Curator: Precisely. Consider the economy of line, yet the richness of texture achieved. The hatching technique employed to model the figures suggests an adherence to classical principles while experimenting within the medium of printmaking. Editor: The use of line really does give a sense of depth, despite it being a relatively flat image. I was initially caught up in the subject, but the artist's method seems even more central. Curator: The formal qualities actively constitute the viewing experience. It makes the content interesting but secondary. Editor: Thanks, I’ll be paying closer attention to line and texture from now on, and thinking harder about the intended viewing experience. Curator: Indeed. A worthwhile exploration.