De Tijd is de beste Leermeester 1677 - 1755

Editor: Here we have Elias van Nijmegen's drawing "De Tijd is de beste Leermeester," made sometime between 1677 and 1755. It's done with ink and watercolor, a lovely mix of detail and fluidity. I find it fascinating how he brings allegory to life with these figures and instruments, almost like a scene from a dream. How do you read this image? What stands out to you? Curator: It whispers of fleeting moments and the wisdom they carry, doesn’t it? The Baroque loved its allegories, its hidden lessons draped in sensual fabrics and dramatic poses. Look at Father Time there, holding his standard, not with a scythe, but presiding over a musical ensemble. Is Time teaching these figures, are they learning from time itself, or are they enacting time? I keep coming back to the water element in the foreground -- does this represent time’s constant flow? The fragility of watercolor mirrors the ephemeral nature of time, don't you think? Editor: I do now! The water element wasn’t something I picked up at first glance. Now the characters feel like they're floating, somehow both grounded in their tasks and unbound. It also made me realize that despite the title focusing on Time as a teacher, music and the ensemble are such a big component of the drawing. Are they related somehow, perhaps the fruits of Time? Curator: Exactly. And look at the statue looking down. Perhaps an embodiment of memory itself, suggesting music’s ability to preserve and pass down knowledge. Imagine if this was an operatic staging, with Time as conductor, wisdom carried on the winds of violins and lutes... Baroque, at its heart, is theatrical like that! This tiny sheet becomes an epic. Editor: This reframing has enriched my perspective so much. Thank you. I initially took the title at face value, now it's clearly about seeing and feeling all those interwoven layers of meaning, echoing far beyond a straightforward representation of Time as master. Curator: That is, I hope, the enchantment of Van Nijmegen’s watercolours, which hopefully will enrich yours.