Vrouwelijke personificatie van Azië voorgesteld als vrouw met tulband zittend op olifant 1648 - 1664

Editor: This engraving by Cornelis van Dalen II, titled "Female personification of Asia represented as a woman with a turban sitting on an elephant", dates from the mid-17th century. I’m immediately struck by the texture created through the engraving. It gives the whole image a complex layered feeling, especially in the elephant and landscape. What elements do you notice first? Curator: Considering this engraving formally, I would draw attention to the figure of Asia and the symbolic objects within the composition. Focus, if you will, on the line work used to define the drapery and musculature. Observe how it models her form and directs the viewer’s eye. Note how the rendering gives substance to the scene. What do you make of the other symbolic objects such as the object in her hand and the one near the elephant’s trunk? Editor: Well, the figure she holds looks like a sun. Is the standard being carried by the figure kneeling before the elephant an emblem of conquest? Curator: Precisely. Now, let's consider the formal relationship between the elephant and its rider. Van Dalen's arrangement brings them into a visual balance. Do you see it too? This can suggest certain social hierarchies. What does it mean in the total composition of this artwork? Editor: I suppose it highlights the woman's power and dominance. The artist’s focus on detail, like the intricate patterns on her clothes, all enhance the overall feeling of richness. Thanks. Curator: Indeed, our consideration of the structure, material and its components reveals much about this fascinating engraving and its themes of allegory and dominance.