A Terrace in Rome

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In the 17th century, an etcher finds his face destroyed by acid. This "leathery face" forever marks him with the love he bore for Nanni of Bruges and the vengeful act of her jealous fiancé. Deprived of image and expression, the engraver Meaume delves into his inner self. Through a series of disjointed scenes, akin to cries and gasps accompanying a journey through hell towards the light, Meaume expresses his ecstasies, his art, his desires, as well as themes of creativity, love, appearance, and truth. As a man "attacked by images," he articulates his visions and his fascination with the interplay of light and shadow. The realm of creativity has always captivated Pascal Quignard, as seen in his previous novels. He is a writer of silence, of "stammering," of "secrets," propelled by a language with deeply rooted origins.