Vaas met griffioenen 1729 - 1737

Curator: So, let's talk about this striking image, "Vase with Griffins," a print made by Gabriel Huquier sometime between 1729 and 1737. You can find it here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh, my goodness, that vase is intense. It's like it's straight out of a gothic fairy tale. A vase entwined by a serpent and guarded by a pair of fierce griffins perched at the top! There is some very high fantasy there. Curator: It absolutely speaks to a very specific visual language popular at the time. Considering the Baroque style, it's dripping with symbolism and the visual rhetoric of power, isn't it? The griffins themselves, acting as protectors, suggest an elite status, echoing back to classical antiquity. The inclusion of an oak branch could also refer to long lasting life. Editor: Oh, I never thought about what an oak branch could mean there, how cool. But what gets me are those griffins— they are a little silly looking if I'm being honest! They seem like they’re trying so hard to look intimidating but almost look goofy instead! Is this typical of baroque artwork in the 18th century? Curator: The execution of the griffins does show some divergence. They aren't hyper realistic representations, right? So it could come down to individual artistic style, but the overall composition aligns quite nicely with that period's inclination towards elaborate ornamentation and symbolic representation of power and status. Editor: Makes sense! I guess everything is never that straightforward and monolithic when it comes to art styles and movements! It still strikes me that despite all this pomp, there's a playfulness there—almost a sense of humor embedded in it. And the vase being on a pedestal really amplifies how precious an item it would have been considered. Curator: Yes, and that the engraving’s creation, afforded “avec Privilege du Roy”—with the King’s privilege, would indicate that Huquier's print would have circulated widely to those aspiring towards this very regal sense of decor. Editor: Huh! I like looking at that vase a lot more now! Who would have guessed all of this historical weight would be bound up in a goofy-looking vase and bird monsters? Curator: Right? It's a beautiful reminder that art pieces speak to more than what initially meets the eye.