Man en vrouw aan een gevel 1749

Etienne Fessard etched this print of a man and woman at a facade in the 18th century. The furtive encounter, set against a backdrop of classical architecture, immediately brings to mind the stage. The balcony scene above echoes those of Shakespearean dramas and commedia dell’arte. The harlequin figure lurks in the shadows, a nod to the timeless dance between desire and deception. Observe how the woman recoils, her gesture a universal sign of surprise and perhaps fear. This pose reminds us of nymphs fleeing from satyrs in ancient Roman frescoes, or even startled figures in Renaissance paintings depicting the Susanna and the Elders. Such recurring motifs speak to the enduring human fascination with the interplay of light and darkness. The balcony, a space of both exposure and concealment, taps into our primal associations with hidden truths and forbidden desires. This carefully staged scene, with its echoes of theatricality and ancient myth, engages us on a subconscious level, evoking the timeless drama of human relationships.