XXXIX Liefd ane raet 1614

Curator: This piece, titled "XXXIX Liefd ane raet," comes to us from the year 1614. Roemer Visscher is credited as the artist behind this miniature engraving, which is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought is one of starkness, really. The sharp contrast in the print and the clear image of a single hand—there's a solemnity here. Is it meant to feel cautionary? Curator: Yes, the piece functions as a kind of proverb illustrated. It's part of a series called "Van de Sinnepoppen," a collection of emblems meant to impart wisdom. The text alongside the image emphasizes the importance of advice and counsel, especially in love. The title translates roughly to "Love without advice." Editor: Ah, so that hand isn't necessarily offering help; it is withholding something—maybe guidance? And is it really an engraving? It seems rather textile-like in its composition and shading. How was the print created? Curator: Visscher utilized engraving techniques, where lines are cut into a metal plate, likely copper in this instance, with a tool called a burin. Ink is then applied to the plate and then printed onto paper or perhaps even textile materials to some degree as well. This creates that distinct linear quality that we see. But it is certainly possible, even likely, that the final output might be integrated in other forms, perhaps with stitchery and so on. Editor: That explains the quality, yes. Knowing it's an engraving adds another layer—the deliberate and laborious nature of the work contrasting the impulsive, potentially reckless nature of the "love without advice" that it critiques. It becomes quite compelling when one sees the craft pushing against this supposed freedom, making it even more beautiful in its restrictions. Curator: Precisely. The image is paired with text reinforcing this. Love, unchecked, is like a knife held incorrectly – you can’t carry it far without hurting yourself. Editor: It’s funny; what first seemed so severe now strikes me as insightful, perhaps even kind in its austerity. It makes me rethink how “advice” functions now in comparison to how Visscher conceptualized the act in his moment. Curator: Yes, considering these prints aren't simply aesthetic objects but social tools providing commentary offers a potent window into the early 17th century. It suggests a more communally embedded view of the self, love, and accountability.