Leeuwen, haas en een paard after 1698

Curator: It’s so whimsical, isn't it? It’s a veritable menagerie, all swirling detail. Editor: It is captivating. This is "Leeuwen, haas en een paard," which translates to “Lion, Hare, and a Horse,” created after 1698 by Anthonie de Winter. This drawing, currently held at the Rijksmuseum, employs engraving techniques on metal, showcasing the Baroque style. Curator: "Whimsical menagerie" sums it up! I feel like I've stumbled into a fantastical goldsmith's workshop, somewhere sprites are crafting magical ornaments. It reminds me a little of folk art motifs or like finding hidden pictures in the clouds. What do you read in it? Editor: The seemingly decorative is so very intentional. It serves as a reminder that ornamentation often plays a critical role in upholding cultural and hierarchical narratives. The horse, lion and hare are so much more than ornamental; these are loaded symbols. The horse often symbolizes nobility and power, and the lion symbolizes courage. Curator: I’d not really stopped to see if it held power; I was off somewhere in a flight of fancy. It makes sense, as Baroque pieces, at least the larger works, would act almost as cultural propaganda, or reinforce social order. The engraving feels less declarative than painting though…a gentler nod to authority maybe? Editor: Yes, I think you have a point. Because it’s on paper, there’s an intimacy to it. Engravings and prints had an ability to circulate ideas in a more intimate fashion than large Baroque paintings which are usually found in palaces or churches. So it carries authority, yet feels accessible. But how might that affect your read of the "whimsical" mood? Curator: Perhaps there’s more than meets the eye to my initial reaction! Perhaps, subconsciously, the playfulness offsets that intended declaration and makes it easier to receive the underlying symbolism. It lets the medicine go down, so to speak. It might even subvert the meaning! How brilliant! Editor: Exactly. It underscores that Baroque artwork is full of complexities—the superficial exuberance often disguises the subtle assertion of authority, faith, and power. So many things get layered together! This work makes me appreciate those dialogues more deeply. Curator: Absolutely. It is funny, how much an exchange can adjust my gaze and expand a piece's story. It certainly elevates the initial delight. Editor: For me, I walk away wondering: Whose stories get told in those layers of ornament, and whose don’t? Art always provokes a good question, I think.