Atalanta and Meleager (ca. 1640–70)
Original title: Atalanta and Meleager
kurzbeschreibung
This etching by Johannes Meyssens, made around 1640–70, retells the ancient myth of Atalanta and Meleager. The black-and-white print measures 31.5 × 22.3 cm.
Description
Three figures anchor the image: a man in fur leggings, a seated woman in flowing robes, and a winged child holding the fabric. Above them floats a cloud bearing a figure brushing her hair. Leaves and branches of a forest frame the scene. Along the bottom edge appear Latin words and the names of Petrus Paulus Rubens and Johannes Weyden. Diffuse light from above falls on the figures, singling them out.
Context
The source was a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, made around 1635. Meyssens translated it into print, making the motif available to a wider audience. The classical subject was highly popular in the Baroque era. The artist worked in Antwerp as an engraver and publisher.
Impact
The diagonal arrangement of the figures generates movement and tension. The diffuse light from above gives the scene a calm, almost stage-like quality. Figures and background are clearly separated, guiding the eye to the action.
Technique
For this etching, the drawing was etched into a copper plate. The linework is fine and precise, as was customary for 17th-century printmaking. The image was printed on paper that was subsequently trimmed.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)