XIII Weest dat ghy zijt 1614

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to a fascinating engraving from 1614 by Roemer Visscher titled “XIII Weest dat ghy zijt,” which translates to "Know Thyself". The work is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. My first thought is the texture—it feels dense, rich; the artist has really explored the potential of the engraved line. What do you think? Editor: My immediate impression is of a rather melancholic image. The owl is positioned quite centrally. In terms of iconography, this feels loaded—the solemn gaze, the darkened landscape... I wonder what the intended viewers might have projected onto this animal. Curator: Indeed, let's look at production. We're dealing with a print here; multiples could be produced and distributed. What's interesting is the interplay between the image and the printed text; how does the meaning shift in relation to these production conditions and textual clues? It clearly complicates a reading of pure melancholy. Editor: Symbolically, the owl has been interpreted in vastly different ways. Ancient Athens connected it to wisdom and the goddess Pallas Athena, as mentioned in the text alongside the image, but in other contexts, especially during this time, the owl carries connotations of darkness, ignorance, and even death. This suggests an exploration of human folly. How are people using the owl? For what? Curator: That is fascinating and crucial, thinking about labor, too— the meticulous work involved in creating such an intricate plate. The engraving suggests a controlled process, yet one open to reproduction and mass dissemination. It seems such contrast, almost like the material conditions complicate the reception around an intended single message. Editor: Exactly. And what about the context of “knowing thyself”? Placing the owl within this philosophical framework gives us access to other understandings, highlighting an inward search for authenticity versus outward perception and image. What might viewers make of these contrasts based on how materials shape it and circulate it? Curator: I find myself thinking about the societal commentary on pretense that emerges from both the engraving's detailed lines and symbolic charge. What a lot of meanings circulating. Editor: An intriguing combination of materiality and metaphor. What a statement about self-awareness.