The Wedding of Mopsus and Nisa 1570

Curator: Pieter van der Heyden, after a design by Bruegel, created this engraving called "The Wedding of Mopsus and Nisa." It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is one of stark contrast. The sharp lines create a sense of unease, and the scale is so intimate. Curator: Indeed, the composition is quite theatrical. Note how the artist uses the dense woodland setting and the architectural backdrop to frame the unfolding drama. Editor: I'm drawn to the figures themselves. The names Mopsus and Nisa suggest a classical reference, perhaps a veiled commentary through allegorical figures. Are they symbols of something more profound? Curator: Symbolism certainly abounds, but consider the formal elements: The stippling and hatching techniques create texture, imbuing the figures with a remarkable sense of volume. The line becomes form. Editor: And those faces! The expressions are so exaggerated, bordering on grotesque. Is it a commentary on the state of marriage? Curator: The grotesque can be a powerful tool. Perhaps it reflects anxieties about social order and the inherent instability of relationships. Food for thought, certainly. Editor: Indeed, I leave this with a sense of the dark underbelly of celebration, thanks to these carefully rendered, disquieting symbols.