The Fabulist Truth (La Vérité Fabuliste) 1720 - 1771

Editor: Here we have Laurent Cars' engraving, "The Fabulist Truth," dating from sometime between 1720 and 1771. It depicts a female figure floating on clouds, bathed in light. She carries a staff topped with a cherubic head. What stands out to me is her serene expression, but the title seems to suggest a sort of deceptive element. How do you interpret this work? Curator: That serenity is key. Think about Truth, often depicted as unveiled, direct. But here, the title "Fabulist Truth" suggests truth presented through stories, allegories, perhaps even illusions. Consider the staff she holds. It’s topped by a cherub, representing divine innocence. What could that cherub signify, held by a figure representing 'fabulist' truth? Editor: Perhaps truth is being carefully presented, guided, or even manipulated through a childlike innocence. Curator: Precisely. The clouds are also important. They soften the harsh reality, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The billowing drapery adds to that sense of idealized presentation, almost theatrical. Notice how light emanates, obscuring details. Do you think this idealization is intended to be reassuring or deceptive? Editor: It could be both, I guess. Reassuring on the surface, yet hinting at something concealed or altered. Curator: Exactly! It reflects a time when nuanced communication, employing symbols and layers of meaning, was paramount. Truth wasn't a hammer, but a carefully constructed narrative. Editor: I hadn't considered the deliberate construction of the image in that way before. Curator: Seeing isn't believing; it's understanding the language with which we can grasp the intention within it. Editor: I appreciate understanding that, now seeing how intertwined symbolism and narratives were, I am grateful for this new insight.