Der Heilige Borromäus verteilt Almosen 

Editor: We’re looking at *Saint Borromeo Distributing Alms* by Johann Wolfgang Baumgartner, a gouache, ink, and colored pencil drawing on paper. It’s... monochrome, almost dreamlike. A woman is surrounded by supplicants while chubby cherubs swirl overhead. How would you interpret a piece like this? Curator: Well, my dear, at first glance, it feels almost theatrical, wouldn't you say? It’s like a stage set – Borromeo, acting as this saintly distributor. You feel the hand of the artist, creating drama out of divine charity. There's the rather bold attempt to balance earth and heavens...almost heavy-handedly, if I may say so myself! Editor: I see what you mean, the composition feels intentionally crafted. Do you think the figures overhead are a bit much? Curator: Oh, absolutely! One might call it baroque excess, but I see it more as a striving for something...beyond the ordinary. Baumgartner has thrown open the windows of perception to bring the divine into our everyday muck. One could say it's overly ambitious, yet I admire the attempt. What I wonder is, what do you see as the connection between those earthbound, begging souls and those frolicking cherubs? Editor: I guess it suggests divine endorsement or heavenly reward for earthly acts of kindness. Curator: Precisely! The artist cleverly wants you to know that this charitable deed bridges mortal struggle and eternal reward. What did you find surprising about this piece? Editor: That even in monochrome, it’s quite emotionally vibrant. Curator: Yes! He creates depth using light and shadow. A somewhat heavenly attempt. See, a divine comedy in a colored-pencil?