Faam 1533 - 1567

Curator: Here we have "Faam," an engraving dating from 1533 to 1567, attributed to the hand of Enea Vico. It's currently part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: Well, isn't that something! My first thought? Loud. Brash even. She’s practically shouting with that trumpet, a bit like my upstairs neighbor, actually. Curator: Indeed. Notice how Vico has rendered Fame as a winged figure, traversing the landscape with haste. Consider the lines, the intricate detailing, and the textures he has achieved through the engraving process. Semiotically, the trumpet serves as a signifier for pronouncements, broadcasting news both good and ill across the world. Editor: Absolutely. The way she’s striding forward gives a real sense of urgency. But look closer—there’s something slightly…off. A tad unbalanced maybe? The figure seems almost too large for the landscape behind it. Makes me think about how rumor and exaggeration often distort the truth, looming large over reality. Curator: A pertinent observation. This slightly disproportionate element aligns neatly with Mannerist sensibilities, where distortion and exaggeration are frequently deployed to provoke a heightened emotional response. Also note the Latin inscription—"Voce, oculis, alis, toti svm cognita mvndo" -- "By voice, by eyes, by wings, I am known to the whole world." Editor: Right, because rumor spreads fast, seen and heard, it's everywhere. She really is working hard spreading the news...wonder what she's yelling about. All those details in the fabric, the tiny figures on the hill...It gives it the feeling that something significant happened, but we only see it from afar. As the viewer, we don't ever fully know all the facts! Curator: Precisely. The artwork functions as an allegory. Fame herself—*Faam*—serves as the personification of reputation, public opinion, and, of course, notoriety. Editor: That's fascinating, putting a face and wings on something so intangible, and also volatile as news...the perfect piece for thinking about how gossip travels. Curator: It invites reflection. It showcases, simultaneously, the skill of Vico as printmaker. Editor: Definitely a piece that has stuck with me...lots to chew over about that dame!