Prudence c. 18th century

Curator: Stefano Mulinari's "Prudence" presents an allegorical figure, circa 1770, rendered in delicate sepia ink. What catches your eye first? Editor: That mirror, definitely. It's almost comical—the way she's contemplating it, and it seems to be contemplating her right back! Curator: Mirrors, of course, are critical instruments of self-reflection but also items of luxury and vanity, which are telling here. Note the snake coiled around her arm as well, a common symbol of wisdom. Editor: I like the loose, sketchy lines. It feels immediate, almost like a thought caught on paper. I imagine Mulinari rapidly sketching, driven by some inner… necessity. Curator: Indeed. And the printmaking process would have transformed that energy through labor and circulation into a commodity available for consumption. Editor: Right, but it also freezes that flicker of insight for us to see, generations later. I'm still stuck on that mirror, though; it's less about vanity for me than it is about searching for truth. Curator: A lovely thought and a reminder that this image, like most, presents multiple layers to unpack. Editor: It's funny how something so old can still feel so alive.