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“Translations
and Transformations” is a journey with two destinations:
Dante’s and mine. Dante’s Divine
Comedy was written
at in the early 14th century, in Italian, and in verse. He
is the narrator and main character. Since 1812 when it was first
translated into English, this long poem of 100 Cantos has been
translated continuously just in English. Dante’s journey
takes us down into the many levels of the Inferno (the Pope is
next to Satan); we leave the Inferno climb a mountain out of
Purgatory leading to Paradise. Dante has completed his journey
and returns to earth, content.
I have also completed my journey.
The Divine Comedy is still being translated because within the
poem’s tight geometric structure, Dante has exposed the
flaws of human nature. He was a Catholic, but highly critical
of the clergy. In the wider sense, pride is still with us as
is greed. This is a universal work of art that resonates in today’s
living language and, fortunately via translators, for future
generations.
There are twenty-six
etchings in “Translations and Transformations”, it
is bound and all the text is letterpress printed. The Italian
text is printed in light gray, the English translations in black.
Open, the size is 13”high X 37”wide. |