Vastenavond 1567

Curator: This engraving, titled "Vastenavond," created in 1567 by Pieter van der Heyden after a design by Hieronymus Cock, offers us a raucous scene of pre-Lenten revelry. The original is housed right here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, it’s a whirlwind! So much happening. My immediate impression is that it’s delightfully chaotic, full of bizarre little details and darkly comic energy. Curator: Van der Heyden really captured the spirit. "Vastenavond" refers to the evening before Lent, analogous to Mardi Gras. The print functions as social commentary, contrasting pious behavior with worldly indulgence, which would have had real resonance in the context of religious reformation. Editor: That tension is palpable. Look at the mock religious figures – those “nuns” gleefully making music and pouring drink, totally abandoning piety. I notice the devilish imp in the lower center almost orchestrating the scene, it is delicious, wicked. It gives me chills. Curator: Precisely. These types of prints often served to critique the Catholic clergy but appealed broadly through humorous and grotesque imagery. Printmaking was also expanding access to visual culture at this time; works like these allowed for the wide dissemination of these opinions. Editor: The expressions are priceless. The figure on the right is fascinating: he’s being shaved from his chair; a pan being held out in front of him by the nun…like some sort of distorted religious ablution of flesh. The symbolism feels incredibly potent! Curator: The detail really rewards a close look. The composition guides us to reflect on human impulses that are base yet completely recognizable. This allowed the artists and engravers to spread subversive thoughts to viewers beyond elites. Editor: Subversive and wickedly entertaining. Pieter van der Heyden gives us the scene with his usual impressive technical flair; the delicate cross-hatching that creates such depth. Curator: Right, you can really appreciate Heyden's mastery, it really pulls you into its world Editor: For me, this print encapsulates the frenetic energy right before a period of reflection, a sort of collective exhale that’s both exciting and a bit unsettling. It feels very human. Curator: I see it as a potent reflection on hypocrisy and social excess, perfectly positioned between humor and judgment. What an incredibly layered little gem that rewards our continuous examination and appreciation of the past.