Poëzie 1750 - 1778

Editor: This print, "Poëzie," dating roughly from 1750 to 1778 and attributed to Georg Leopold Hertel, depicts two cherubs amidst clouds, rendered in engraving. It feels almost dreamlike, a little baroque confection. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Dreamlike is spot on! It transports me, frankly, to a world of fluffy clouds and rosy cheeks – where even the instruments seem to float on a melody of their own. Consider the context: baroque loved allegory! These aren't just cute kids; they embody Poetry. Do you see the laurel wreath about to crown one of them? That’s not a graduation gift; that's poetic triumph! Editor: Absolutely, the wreath makes so much sense. And the dove with a quill, and the lyre… it's all connected. So, it’s a statement about the power and ideals of poetry? Curator: Precisely. It's like they're whispering secrets to each other on a cloud, sharing lines of verse that only the most imaginative souls can decipher. Did you notice how softly Hertel renders their flesh? That touch turns it into something ethereal. It could be overly sweet, yet manages a playful knowingness through those clever iconographic attributes. What do *you* feel when you look at them? Editor: I see what you mean; there's almost a tongue-in-cheek element. Before, I thought it was saccharine, but the playful touch of details, like the dove or lyre, reframes the work entirely. Curator: Exactly! Sometimes a second look, a little context, unlocks an entirely new dimension, doesn't it? We are lucky to find such beautiful works still speaking to us. Editor: Definitely! I'm starting to appreciate Baroque in a new light after diving deeper into this engraving. Curator: Isn’t it marvelous when that happens? It reminds us that art is always talking to us, if only we are willing to listen with fresh ears – and maybe a pinch of playful skepticism, eh?