Hercules en de Nemeïsche leeuw 1573 - 1580

Curator: This meticulously rendered print captures Hercules's legendary struggle with the Nemean lion. Produced sometime between 1573 and 1580 by Etienne Delaune, it showcases the artist’s skill in engraving. The piece is housed right here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Ah, it's striking how the oval format intensifies the scene! There's such controlled frenzy here, a tense choreography between man and beast amid this incredibly detailed, almost claustrophobic landscape. It feels a bit dreamlike, a really dark fairytale moment. Curator: Mannerism definitely allowed for that heightened drama. The technique involves using fine lines to build both form and the intricate textures, especially within the landscape backdrop, that contributes so much to the piece’s mood. This speaks to the consumption habits of the era – smaller prints like this became increasingly popular amongst collectors. Editor: That's interesting...knowing that affects how I experience it. I see the labour intensivity too: All those fine lines, cross-hatching… imagine doing that by hand? There’s something almost defiant about taking that kind of time over something so small, almost fighting against the grain of mass production…it’s kind of heroic! Just like Hercules. Curator: Perhaps. I'm inclined to see it as meeting a market demand with exceptional artistry, in the Mannerist style – which, as you rightly observed, thrives on artifice and tension. Note the almost decorative treatment of Hercules's muscles and the lion’s mane. It really shows that blurring of boundaries, and what we expect of ‘high art.’ Editor: That's a fascinating contrast, thinking about something created for this limited access consumption that resonates across centuries and connects directly to personal feelings. I come back to how it looks—how powerful the movement is; it's a little jewel, isn't it? Curator: Indeed. Delaune's engraving serves as an excellent reminder that even the most seemingly decorative pieces are rich with artistic intention and historical context. Editor: Right you are; my own little quest today just began!