The Five Senses 1600 - 1649

Editor: We're looking at "The Five Senses," a print from sometime between 1600 and 1649, attributed to an anonymous artist, currently at the SMK in Copenhagen. It’s monochrome, incredibly detailed, almost dreamlike. All these figures intertwined in a landscape... it's a lot to take in! What leaps out at you when you see this, or, how would you even begin to interpret a piece so dense? Curator: Oh, where to begin? Well, my eye’s drawn to the central figure, overflowing with flowers. The sense of smell, right? Notice how it anchors the entire composition. The artist is orchestrating our senses through the senses depicted. It's like a puzzle box, isn't it? Each section, each figure, whispering secrets about seeing, hearing, tasting… it’s almost theatrical. But what do *you* feel when you look at this? What sense does it awaken in you? Editor: I think… hearing. All those musical instruments, even the suggestion of birdsong in the trees. But then I see the woman with the mirror and I second guess myself, am I overthinking the obvious connection with sight? Curator: Ah, the mirror! A classic symbol of sight, yes, but also of vanity, of reflection—both literal and metaphorical. The artist is layering meaning here, don’t you think? It isn't just *what* we see, but *how* we see, and even *why.* This feels right to me, what do you think? It reminds us that experiencing art is multi-layered, it changes the work when we contemplate what our role is as a viewer. Editor: It’s almost overwhelming to think about how much is going on, both on the surface and underneath. Each figure seems like it deserves a closer look on its own! Curator: Exactly! And that, my dear Editor, is the beauty of art like this. It rewards curiosity. Editor: Definitely! It gives you the tools to look closer both outwards and inwards. Curator: Indeed. It invites a conversation with ourselves.