Mathieu Molé c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have a portrait of Mathieu Molé by Claude Mellan. There isn't a date, but Mellan lived in the 17th century. It's made entirely of lines! What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Oh, it's an optical symphony, isn’t it? Mellan's use of a single, continuous line to create light and shadow… it's almost meditative. Do you see how the line thickens and thins, suggesting form and volume? It’s like a philosophical statement on unity, wouldn't you say? Editor: I see what you mean! It's incredibly detailed for just one line. Curator: It’s more than detail; it’s a testament to the artist's breath, his very life force channeled into a single, unbroken gesture. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. Curator: Art invites such contemplation, doesn't it? It's a mirror reflecting not just the subject, but ourselves.