Herse en Agraulos openen de mand met het kind Erichthonius 1656 - 1726

Editor: This engraving, “Herse en Agraulos openen de mand met het kind Erichthonius,” made sometime between 1656 and 1726 by Johannes Glauber, depicts a scene shrouded in secrecy, almost like a forbidden glance. What draws your eye when you look at it? Curator: I'm immediately struck by the tension between revelation and concealment. Consider the open doorway to the outside versus the heavy, draped fabric inside. Light streams in, yet it illuminates a secret act, fraught with consequence. Does the basket seem like a Pandora’s box to you? Editor: That's a good analogy, that contrast really emphasizes that it's about to open some sort of trouble. And I hadn't thought about Pandora's box. How does Glauber use symbolism to tell this story? Curator: Observe the child, Erichthonius. Partially concealed, he represents hidden knowledge, the consequences of which the sisters, Herse and Agraulos, are about to unleash. It’s worth noting the snakes – sometimes not pictured but ever-present in the mythology – representing the inherent danger of forbidden knowledge. Even the architecture whispers of secrets; the imposing yet shadowed archways frame a narrative where curiosity leads to potentially destructive outcomes. Editor: It’s amazing how much symbolism Glauber packed into a seemingly simple scene! I also find that by showing these Roman women in such exquisite detail, this creates a very clear psychological tension. Thanks! Curator: Precisely! He has used symbolism that gives life to universal and timeless aspects of the human psyche. So much about it is, isn’t it? Thank you, this was very insightful.