Christus en Zacheüs 1660

Curator: Erasmus Quellinus's 1660 ink and charcoal drawing, "Christ and Zacchaeus," is quite remarkable. What’s your initial impression? Editor: There is a fascinating mix of subdued tones. It almost feels theatrical, with Christ as a central figure on a kind of stage. Curator: Indeed. Let's think about Quellinus’s process: the choice of ink and charcoal, materials readily available for preparatory drawings. The varying levels of finish across the image, that suggests different priorities and levels of engagement as the artist worked. Editor: The figure of Zacchaeus perched in the tree… such a potent symbol! He's literally elevated, seeking a higher truth, separate and observing society. The longing gaze toward Christ represents an emotional seeking of redemption and transformation. Curator: And this scene, taken from Luke 19, resonates within a long tradition of biblical narrative. Considering Quellinus's Antwerp workshop, how might its collaborative labor have influenced the drawing's completion and circulation? Was it destined to become a final work, or something else? Editor: Absolutely. You’ve also got the postures, too. Consider the crowd's expressions - shock, awe, curiosity. And the children in the foreground - the universal need and embrace of faith embodied. Christ’s simple, commanding gesture. They're a complex visual lexicon. Curator: Thinking about materials – what did the trade in paper look like then, what qualities are the most stable? Quellinus chose carefully when rendering this. What labor was involved, who managed those resources? These questions bring a certain tension to this serene biblical scene, right? Editor: Precisely! Considering this piece as more than just a biblical illustration unveils hidden dimensions. Curator: Well, considering all of the implications we unpacked here, I find myself curious as to how we decide how “finished” is defined for each of Quellinus' artworks. Editor: Yes, perhaps more important to ask who decides it. But I find I walk away from this artwork feeling more than ever the universality of spiritual yearning, however expressed.