Titelpagina voor: Cornelis Dusart, Renversement de la morale chretienne (...) Seconde Partie (...) Omstooting der christelyke zeden (...) 't Tweede Deel, s.a. 1676 - 1689

Editor: This print, "Titelpagina voor: Cornelis Dusart, Renversement de la morale chretienne...", dates from sometime between 1676 and 1689. It looks like an engraving. The overall mood is very formal and declamatory, and given that its title appears in both French and Dutch, I wonder if there's some political commentary present? How do you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: That’s an insightful initial reaction. The bilingual aspect is key. Think about the tensions between France and the Dutch Republic during that period. This title page, “Reversal of Christian Morality,” implicitly critiques the Catholic Church through its attack on monastic orders, right? The “privilege” granted by Innocent XI is deeply ironic here, isn’t it? Editor: Yes, I see what you mean! So the text is using humor as a form of social critique? Curator: Precisely. Consider the term "omstooting" or "reversal" – it suggests a deliberate upsetting of established norms. We might even analyze this through a lens of power and resistance. Who had the authority to define "morality," and who was being silenced or excluded? And who was Dusart speaking to when they presented the content this way? Editor: It’s amazing how a seemingly straightforward title page can be a site of such complex cultural and political negotiation. Thank you for providing that point of view! Curator: Indeed! By understanding the historical context and considering the artist’s possible motivations, we uncover layers of meaning that enrich our appreciation of this print as an historical document.