Malle Babbe 1756 - 1817

Editor: Here we have Louis Bernard Coclers's etching, Malle Babbe, created sometime between 1756 and 1817. There's a striking quality to the woman's face, a sort of jovial knowingness, contrasted by the owl perched on her shoulder. How do you interpret the symbolic relationship between the woman and the owl? Curator: Well, owls traditionally symbolize wisdom, but also darkness or folly, depending on the cultural lens. Here, I'm particularly drawn to how the artist positions the owl. Is it a familiar, a partner, or a commentary on the woman's perceived nature? Owls have strong symbolic links to the Greek goddess Athena, to wisdom and strategic battle. Are we meant to consider Babbe’s hidden attributes, beyond an initial glance? Editor: That's interesting. I initially read the owl as a symbol of oddity, maybe even isolation. But considering its association with wisdom, I wonder if Coclers is suggesting that Babbe possesses some unique insight or knowledge. Curator: Exactly. And what about the woman herself? What details stand out? Look at her laugh lines, her relaxed posture. She isn’t ashamed or hiding, instead meeting the world with what seems to be confident amusement. Coclers is possibly playing with contrasting cultural symbols to convey her emotional or intellectual states. Are there any archetypes coming to mind? Editor: Now I’m thinking about the wise woman archetype. There’s an element of societal disregard toward those deemed "other," and yet wisdom and experience can often reside in unexpected places. Thanks. Now I have a lot to think about! Curator: The cultural memory embedded in symbols often offers unexpected layers of understanding, right? Keep asking these incisive questions, and you will be going far.