Hemelvaart van Maria 1602 - 1604

Curator: Ah, look at this remarkable piece, “The Assumption of Mary,” dating from 1602 to 1604. It’s an engraving by Raffaello Schiaminossi, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What's your take on it? Editor: Well, immediately, it's this incredible tension between the earthly and ethereal. You've got the solidity of the figures in the foreground juxtaposed with that swirling cloud of angels. It feels... layered, almost manufactured, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. Schiaminossi uses the engraving process to great effect here. Think of the labor, the craft, the deliberate act of carving into that metal to produce such a dynamic composition. It wasn't just a transfer of image, it was a translation of texture. Editor: You're right, the physicality of the engraving itself adds to that earthiness, grounding the divine subject matter. What do you think about the theatrical elements? Curator: It’s characteristic of the Baroque period. See how he uses sharp contrasts, creating drama? And that dense crowd of onlookers! Everyone’s vying for space, reaching upwards, pulled by divine mystery… I can almost hear the murmur. Editor: Right, it's all about spectacle, about engaging the viewer's senses. I'm also curious about the inscription, that Latin verse below the image; the way that text further emphasizes the commercial aspects of printed art in early modern Europe. Curator: A great observation. The Latin reminds us of the intended audience – a educated elite. And that text works to sell the narrative… “Untouched she ascends”, as they might’ve interpreted it, framing this image within existing narratives, creating the value through visual culture. Editor: I agree! And you know, I think by understanding the piece like this, seeing that hand that literally crafted it from material, you get a richer insight into the socio-economic environment from which it was born. What’s left to unpack, then? Curator: Perhaps the allegory within, as Schiaminossi masterfully combined themes, form and text, prompting a multitude of interpretations... a tangible piece of faith brought down to earth and immortalized in print. Editor: Beautifully put, that synthesis…it really gives you so much to consider how materials can mediate between the everyday and the otherworldly.