Plechtigheden, geestelyke gewoontens, kerk- en tempel-plichten van alle volkeren der waereldt 1727

Editor: This engraving from 1727, its lengthy title, "Plechtigheden, geestelyke gewoontens, kerk- en tempel-plichten van alle volkeren der waereldt," feels very… assertive. I mean, it's quite a statement, promising to cover the religious customs of all peoples of the world! How do you approach something like this, knowing what we know now about that claim? Curator: It's an ambitious title, bordering on hubris, isn't it? But think of it less as a fully accurate encyclopedia and more as a reflection of the burgeoning global awareness in the Dutch Golden Age, filtered through a very European lens. The artist attempts to catalogue the entire world, but only portrays that world which aligns with the buyer’s beliefs, and that, in my mind, asks many philosophical questions that bleed over to the contemporary art scene. How much can we assume from the cover of a book? Does the cover need to represent what lies within the piece? Editor: So it's the intention, not the perfect execution, that matters? I suppose, like with most art, perfection is rarely the point. I guess what throws me is it being more utilitarian. Curator: Utilitarian, maybe, but with a Baroque flair! Even in typography, you see the drama, the attempt to overwhelm with information – like a feast for the mind. And consider the context: this would have been a luxury item, showcasing the owner's worldly knowledge and wealth. In a strange sense, they were curating their own image by owning something that gave them access, be that real or imagined. Now I must ask: what did you learn today? What does utilitarian Baroque say to you? Editor: I hadn't thought about the owner curating their own image…It makes the artwork much more meaningful than I would have originally anticipated.