Centaur en adelaar met vissenstaart 1685

Curator: Okay, let’s turn our attention to this 1685 print by Coenraet Decker. It's titled "Centaur en adelaar met vissenstaart," which translates to "Centaur and Eagle with Fish Tail". It's currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. I find these baroque prints so full of imaginative energy. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The immediate contrast is interesting; between the chaotic storm at the top and that orderly landscape panel beneath. There’s this push-and-pull of unrestrained fantasy versus an ordered world, isn’t there? It hints at something beyond the literal… Curator: Absolutely. And Decker’s composition! I am taken with the way the figures, while fantastical, almost mimic each other. You have the figure on the left, appearing to blow the conch shell as the monstrous form rears its head back to scream. There's definitely an intentional visual parallel. Perhaps suggesting harmony and conflict? Editor: Or, perhaps reflecting power structures and those excluded from them, especially as we look at a work of art made during an active time of colonialism. Think of the figures that blend human, animal and fish; they remind us of hybrid identities, challenging the concept of fixed beings, especially during a time of "exploration" that classified living beings in very strict categories. Curator: Interesting perspective. And certainly timely. Speaking to craft, what do you make of the engraving? It's such fine work. Editor: I love the textural work. The landscape in the lower panel is especially delightful in its ability to use light. And let's acknowledge the symbolism. Marine monsters in Dutch art of this period often alluded to both the power of the sea and the wealth it brought—but at what cost? Curator: Yes! There are layers within layers. You make me look at Decker's creatures differently! Editor: These pieces reflect humanity; past, present, and, let's face it, into the future. What appears fantastical still has lessons that keep their legacy alive and vital to us today. Curator: You are right! I’m glad that these hybrid, somewhat surreal engravings still stir thoughtful dialogues across eras. It reminds us art can and should challenge established views.