Twee stieren, de koppen bijeen c. 1649 - 1677

Editor: We’re looking at Marcus de Bye’s etching, "Twee stieren, de koppen bijeen", dating back to somewhere between 1649 and 1677. The composition is stark, almost humorous in its simplicity: two bulls facing off. It feels... surprisingly modern for a Baroque piece. What stands out to you? Curator: Oh, these aren't just bulls, darling, they're stubbornness and raw energy etched onto paper! It makes me think of two grumpy old men arguing over...well, anything! There's a delightful awkwardness, isn’t there? Look at how they're framed against that wispy landscape—almost like figures on a stage, putting on a play about masculinity, perhaps. What feelings are evoked when *you* see that background? Editor: It makes me think they are in some sort of enclosed area for the bulls; like a corral on a farm. I suppose it shows that all of us are trapped at times, for all sorts of reasons. I wonder about his choice of etching; why not paint it? Curator: Exactly, it could speak to constraint, not just geographically, but creatively, too. The etching medium gives it a nervous energy. It's not the controlled, polished look of an oil painting. It captures a fleeting moment with surprising intimacy, doesn't it? Did de Bye seek truthfulness rather than beauty here? I almost wonder if he ever tired of realism. Editor: That makes me think of how relevant this still is: that everyday "grind", and seeing through what makes us… us. I think you're right about choosing "truthfulness over beauty" in his pieces, it's quite compelling, actually. Curator: Yes, it certainly is food for thought, and maybe it means finding some kind of simple peace in being headstrong and accepting who we are and who others are too. Editor: It definitely encourages you to contemplate just that, while maybe finding humour along the way.