Ontwerp voor een kan c. 1570 - 1585

Curator: Let’s take a look at this exquisite design sketch, “Ontwerp voor een kan,” which translates to "Design for a pitcher", crafted between 1570 and 1585 by Wenzel Jamnitzer. Editor: Wow, it’s remarkably ornate! My immediate impression is a sense of overwhelming decadence, a near-grotesque abundance of detail. It really embodies that tension of Mannerism, beauty and something almost unsettling. Curator: Precisely! Jamnitzer was a goldsmith renowned for his intricate metalwork. What we’re seeing here is likely a preliminary drawing in pencil and ink, intended as a blueprint for a lavish ceremonial vessel. Editor: It’s fascinating to see how these power dynamics are reflected, even in a decorative object. You've got the almost architectural, heavily sculpted base rising to this elaborate handle that terminates with more sculptural flourishes! It’s a statement about the owner's elevated position. The fact that this design features many naked figures in small relief indicates a knowledge and love for classical ideals. Curator: Absolutely. Remember that the Renaissance was a time when artwork functioned as displays of prestige and assertions of authority, where goldsmiths’ work could function as a social and political discourse, beyond just function and beauty. Editor: It does make me consider who the end-user of something like this might be. To whom is this aspirational luxury directed? Who does it exclude? Curator: A relevant question! Access was undeniably limited. The market for precious metalwork such as this consisted of court officials, city leaders, and affluent merchants who wanted to broadcast their societal prominence through the accoutrements of power. Editor: I see how an artifact, as a physical trace, gives us such a clear visual expression of the society's codified views. Thanks to his work, we understand better now the status of people. Curator: Yes. In observing this sketch, what becomes more apparent is how objects like this reflect society's values. We reveal aspects of both history and power by just pausing and delving deeply.