Pauselijk wapen van Urbanus VIII 1628

Curator: This engaging piece is called "Pauselijk wapen van Urbanus VIII," or Papal coat of arms of Urban VIII, crafted around 1628 by Christoffel van Sichem II. It's an engraving, a print, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Well, my first thought is, that's quite a formal composition. I'm immediately struck by the crispness of the lines, it feels so precise and somehow very still. It really speaks of craft. Curator: Absolutely. Van Sichem was a master of the line. But look beyond the formality to the bees. Three bees sitting so prominently on the crest. How does that hit you? Editor: Bees, eh? The first thing I consider is the labor aspect. The intricate lines here mirror the repetitive actions involved in bee keeping. They bring this symbol of power back to earth with materiality. The consumer often does not think of this. Curator: I see where you're coming from. Perhaps it's a commentary on industry. Bees as a symbol of collective labor. However, I've always thought of them symbolizing of papal virtues – diligence, eloquence, maybe even a hint of the sting if provoked. Editor: That reading could be just as true. Let's consider how it sits in contrast to all this surrounding opulence—the keys, the papal crown. And consider the purpose of these prints—multiple originals and copies for mass circulation and thus control of information by powerful institutions. Curator: So, for you it is less about virtue and more about accessibility and the material reproduction? The labor involved in producing it? Editor: Precisely. To me, the image functions as a sort of baroque call-and-response, revealing something deeper in its making, its accessibility, rather than just its inherent, surface-level symbolism. Curator: I have to say I admire your very grounded view of it. Looking closely it makes one re-think the assumptions on art historical power. For me, though, the symbolic power hums stronger and has a fascinating reverberation that, just perhaps, those buzzing bees have something to do with! Editor: Fair enough, each element provides its own path into that symbolism. The image then is an illustration of the many perspectives we must assume to better consider art’s position in social life.