Peaceful Love c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have "Peaceful Love" by Bernard Baron, an engraving on laid paper. It gives off such a theatrical, almost dreamlike vibe with its cascading waterfall and figures in period attire. What do you make of it? Curator: It whispers to me of an Arcadia, a constructed paradise where love and leisure intertwine. Notice how the figures are arranged—it’s almost as if they are posing for a pastoral play. What I find intriguing is the way the light etches their forms, lending a sort of delicate weight. Doesn't it remind you of a dance? Editor: It does, in a way! I hadn't thought of it as performance, but now I see it. I guess Baron's world can still be a little stage for us too. Curator: Exactly! A stage where we can project our own fantasies of peace and love. It’s a sentiment as timeless as the rustling of leaves in that engraved forest.