Badende mannen en vrouwen c. 1550 - 1570

Editor: So, we're looking at "Bathing Men and Women," an engraving from around 1550-1570 by Hieronymus Cock, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It definitely has this classical feel, but it also feels a little… overcrowded? What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: Overcrowded, yes, a bit like my inbox on a Monday morning! It’s bursting with life, isn’t it? To me, it's Mannerist through and through; a conscious departure from the High Renaissance ideals. Instead of perfect proportions and harmony, we’ve got elongated figures, theatrical poses, and this wonderfully restless energy. It's like Cock is saying, "Let's crank up the volume on everything!" Don't you think? Editor: I can see that. So it's meant to be... a bit much? What about the story being told here? Curator: That’s the intriguing bit, isn’t it? We could get lost in trying to decode a precise narrative. Is it a biblical scene, a classical myth, or simply a snapshot of courtly life with bathing as an excuse for, shall we say, playful interaction? Look how those reclining figures up top mirror some of the postures going on in the foreground. The scene has this air of self-conscious performance. Are they aware they are on display? Editor: It’s like everyone is putting on a show within a show! It definitely gives you a lot to think about. I came in seeing just a busy scene, now I see this whole…artistic choice? Curator: Exactly! Mannerism is like that friend who always adds a dash of the unexpected. Knowing this is one print out of many makes it easier to approach too. After all, why go simple when you can go elaborate, and maybe raise an eyebrow or two in the process?