Diana 1681

Curator: This engraving by Gérard Edelinck presents a vision of "Diana," capturing a marble statue of the goddess. What's your initial take? Editor: Regal and almost melancholy, I’d say. The light seems to caress her, yet there's a sense of isolation in her upward gaze and outstretched hand. Curator: Absolutely. Diana, in classical iconography, represents the moon, wilderness, and the hunt. The bow and quiver signal her power as a huntress. Notice the hound at her side, loyal and ever vigilant. Editor: Yes, the hound is an interesting addition, a symbol of fidelity but also the instinctual, the wild, held in check. It mirrors the dual nature of Diana herself, both virgin goddess and untamed huntress. Curator: Perhaps Edelinck tries to show us that our inner nature can be expressed through symbols. Editor: The composition certainly makes you wonder about our own animal nature, as you put it, as well as how civilization makes room for it. Very subtle and quite clever.