The Visitation 1683

Editor: Here we have Luca Giordano's "The Visitation," an oil painting from 1683. It feels very theatrical to me. What jumps out at you? Curator: I am drawn to the composition. Observe how Giordano employs a dynamic arrangement of figures and architecture to guide the viewer’s eye. The figures on the left surge towards Mary as she approaches Elizabeth at center. What meaning can we derive from these diagonal lines of force, the way figures and setting lean into one another? Editor: It does feel like the figures are almost tumbling into the scene. And that interplay between light and shadow! It creates such depth. Curator: Precisely. Consider the deployment of chiaroscuro. Note the deep shadows that contrast with the brilliant highlights, sculpting the forms and imbuing the scene with a dramatic intensity. How do the shadows play a role? Editor: It makes it almost hard to pinpoint where each figure begins and ends; but creates depth for the highlighted figures. What are you hoping that audiences get from the play with light? Curator: Look at how the light source defines the emotional tone. Through formal and technical study, our task as critics and viewers is to understand an image’s semiotic complexity by close reading. Editor: I’m starting to see how the form is just as vital to understanding the work, thank you for shining a light on this. Curator: Indeed! Attending to these aesthetic qualities can profoundly enrich our engagement.