Strijd tussen Dood en Natuur of Zege der Schilderkunst (deel 15) 1660

Editor: This is "Strijd tussen Dood en Natuur of Zege der Schilderkunst (deel 15)," or "Battle Between Death and Nature or Triumph of the Art of Painting (part 15)," created around 1660 by Henrik Jordis. It's ink and watercolor on paper, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It seems almost like a page out of a personal journal...very intimate, especially since I can’t readily read the handwriting. What strikes you when you consider it? Curator: As a historian, I see more than just an intimate page; I see a reflection of 17th-century intellectual life, particularly within artistic circles. Handwritten treatises or studies like these served a vital purpose, documenting the artist's thought processes and engaging in the ongoing dialogues surrounding art and its role. Editor: That makes sense. So, its "public role" isn't so much exhibited as *written* here? Curator: Precisely! Jordis is actively participating in the "politics of imagery" through the very act of composing this text. It begs the question: who was the intended audience? Was it purely personal, or was Jordis envisioning a wider circulation amongst fellow artists or even patrons? And how does the interplay between image and text on this page work to reinforce its overall message? Editor: So by trying to decipher the symbols and language we can perhaps begin to access those 17th century networks? Curator: Absolutely. Even the explicit mention of figures like Apollo, Pallas, and Mercury suggests a deliberate invocation of classical ideals within the artistic discourse of his time. Editor: Fascinating! It gives this personal looking document so much power beyond being one man's fleeting thought. Curator: Indeed. The intersection of the personal and the socio-political makes this a valuable artifact for understanding the complexities of the period and art's position within them.