Sea Deities 1600 - 1700

Editor: This drawing, "Sea Deities," from the 17th century, shows various figures rendered in pen and ink. There’s an energy here, a chaotic beauty. What symbols jump out at you, what stories do they tell? Curator: It’s interesting you mention stories, because that's precisely what images like these did; they communicated narratives packed with symbolism. Notice how the sea, with its creatures and deities, becomes a metaphor. Consider the trident: not merely a fishing spear but the power to stir or calm the seas – representing dominion, but also divine favor. And those horses? Editor: Are those horses drawing Neptune's chariot, symbolizing his power and the vastness of the ocean realm? Curator: Precisely! Look also at the embrace between the deities in the center. It hints at union, fertility, maybe even conquest. In this period, visual representation of mythological narratives served as an emblem for expressing one’s erudition, to signal philosophical, aesthetic and ethical awareness. Are there elements of drama being performed through symbolic figuration, almost a visual poem being enacted for its viewer? Editor: Definitely! The cherubs add another layer. What’s their purpose here? Curator: They serve as a kind of spiritual compass, a sign of benediction. This drawing could also signify allegories about power, love, or destiny. The pen-and-ink medium contributes to a dynamic, ethereal quality that reflects the fluidity and mysterious depth of the ocean and divine intentions. Does it leave you contemplating ideas about chance, choice and cosmic order? Editor: Absolutely! It’s more than just a mythological scene. It’s about broader concepts of control and destiny represented by characters and details, like the cherubs and the sea itself. I had only considered the artwork for face value representation, so this new perspective helps! Curator: It invites us to unpack complex ideologies represented by figural interactions.