Drieëenheid op wolken omgeven door cherubs 1647

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to “Drie-eenheid op wolken omgeven door cherubs,” or “Trinity on clouds surrounded by cherubs," a 1647 engraving by Gilles Rousselet. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, first impression? It's intense. Melodramatic even. All those cherubs looking so earnestly at…everything! It kind of reminds me of those old-school Italian paintings, but with a heavier hand. Curator: Indeed, the piece exemplifies the Baroque style with its dramatic composition and religious subject matter. Considering the period, religious themes dominated artistic production, reinforcing doctrinal principles and power structures within the church. What strikes me is how the engraving medium contributes to this dissemination. Editor: Exactly. It’s like the ultimate mass-produced holy image, right? And something about the density of the lines gives it an almost claustrophobic feeling. Like the divine is pressing in from all sides. It's fascinating, this collision between spiritual intent and tangible human mark-making through etching. I mean it makes one consider the physical effort required and the kind of devotional act the engraver goes through as well, no? Curator: Precisely! This piece also encourages us to consider gender and power. Who does this piece cater to? It shows us very little besides muscular males, holy doves and cherubs. How do intersectional elements of power work here? Are there other perspectives on divinity we may be missing? Editor: Mmh... you've put it in perspective. Now, look at the anatomy in this print - kind of exaggerated and theatrical. There's real tension but then those puffy clouds and the swarm of cherubs creates a strange and dreamy effect. You have that juxtaposition. Curator: Right, and understanding the context is key. Remember the social and political landscape: religious conflicts, the rise of absolutism... Rousselet's engraving taps into these tensions, visualizing power and authority within a specific ideological framework. Editor: It really does prompt thought about those power structures then, and maybe even today. Thank you for that, I've definitely thought about the piece more than I thought. Curator: And thank you for adding depth through the piece's artistic composition and emotional impact.