{"product_id":"alcina-at-her-toilet-salomon-gessner","title":"Alcina at her Toilet - Salomon Gessner","description":"\u003cp\u003eA fine etching by Salomon Gessner from 1778, depicting the mythological sorceress Alcina attended by her handmaidens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis etching by the Swiss artist and poet Salomon Gessner depicts a scene from the legend of Alcina, the sorceress from Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem, Orlando Furioso. Dated 1778, the work captures a private moment of preparation, showing the enchantress attended by her handmaidens within a draped, tent-like interior. Gessner, known for his literary interests and pastoral themes, employs a delicate etching technique to render the textures of the fabric, the soft drapery of the classical garments, and the quiet domesticity of the setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is structured around the seated figure of Alcina, who is the focus of the attendants' care. To the left, a figure carries a vessel, adding a sense of movement to the otherwise static scene. The background is partially obscured by heavy curtains, which create a sense of intimacy and enclosure. Gessner's approach to the subject reflects the late eighteenth-century interest in classical antiquity and literary illustration. The fine lines and cross-hatching demonstrate his technical proficiency, allowing for subtle gradations of light and shadow across the figures and the surrounding environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a printmaker, Gessner often produced works that accompanied his own writings or those of other authors. This piece functions as a visual narrative, translating a literary moment into a static image. The attention to detail in the furniture, the vessels, and the clothing provides a glimpse into the aesthetic preferences of the period. The work remains a clear example of the European printmaking tradition during the late Enlightenment, where mythological subjects were frequently reinterpreted through a lens of refined, classical elegance. The print is presented here as a museum-grade reproduction, maintaining the tonal qualities of the original etching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/hunting-the-calydonian-boar-richard-van-orley\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eHunting the Calydonian Boar by Richard van Orley\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/triumph-of-bacchus-and-ariadne-louis-felix-de-la-rue\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eTriumph of Bacchus and Ariadne - Louis-Félix de La Rue by Louis-Félix Delarue\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/salomon-gessner\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMore by Salomon Gessner →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Salomon Gessner","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59147299553615,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59147300962639,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59147300995407,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59147301028175,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59147301060943,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59147301093711,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59147301126479,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59147301159247,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59147301192015,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59147301224783,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59147301257551,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59147301290319,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Alcina-at-her-Toilet_Poster_CompositorV1_1792109751954.jpg?v=1792300640","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/alcina-at-her-toilet-salomon-gessner","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}