Twee schenkkannen naar links gericht 1669 - 1693

Editor: This engraving, "Two ewers facing left" by Jean Lepautre, created sometime between 1669 and 1693, strikes me as both ornate and a little…theatrical? Almost like a stage set. What stories do you think these ewers are meant to tell, if any? Curator: I see visual memory deeply embedded in this print. The ewers themselves are like classical actors, wouldn't you agree? Each curve and flourish evokes a certain persona of status. Consider how the artist strategically employs motifs to remind the viewer of classical tales. The cherubic figures evoke innocence and perhaps the triumph of love, drawing from Greco-Roman imagery and associated beliefs of a Golden Age. What emotions do these figures stir in you? Editor: That's interesting. I focused so much on the shape and frame of the ewers, I almost overlooked the tiny figures! They do have that putto-like quality you see in classical sculpture. But is it intentional, to remind us of this "Golden Age", or is it more just part of a visual language? Curator: It’s a delicate balance, isn't it? Every curve of the design—from the sweeping handles to the cherubic ornamentation—serves as an access point into the symbolism associated with ritualistic purification and classical art. Consider, the placement on the stage with a suggested play occuring in the background: is it only the elite to serve or the masses. Where are you lead by its details? Editor: It almost feels like a snapshot, a design meant to freeze a specific cultural moment… or perhaps perpetuate it? This makes me realize how objects carry on ideologies beyond words, they perpetuate a sense of tradition. I didn’t think an object would carry as much symbolism. Thank you, that's a great insight! Curator: Indeed. The "silent" image speaks volumes once you train your eyes and intuition. Looking again through different contexts might deepen your perspective further still!