LIX In magnis et voluisse sat est 1614

Editor: This is "LIX In magnis et voluisse sat est," a 1614 print by Roemer Visscher. It shows a man next to a globe…The whole piece feels a little bit like a riddle, what’s the meaning behind it? Curator: Indeed. Riddles are wonderful devices that carry symbolic weight, offering insight into cultural values. Notice the Latin phrase repeated throughout the print, "In magnis et voluisse sat est." This translates to "In great things, it is enough to have tried." Doesn't it speak to a broader human condition, especially pertinent to the Dutch Golden Age where ambition and commerce flourished? Editor: It does! I hadn’t considered it in that light. So, the image of the man, seemingly propping up the globe…is that connected? Curator: Precisely! The globe symbolizes grand ambition, and the man, perhaps representing the engineer or the inventor, is content with the effort, regardless of completion. The image reminds me of the myth of Sisyphus pushing his rock endlessly. Editor: So even if he doesn’t actually move the globe or succeed, the very act of trying is enough? Is that a commentary on the changing world at the time? Curator: It certainly hints at that. The printing press allowed widespread access to ideas. Was merely engaging with them “enough”, regardless of implementation? Were ideas enough on their own? It also subtly elevates intellectual and creative pursuits above pure monetary success. What do you think that might reflect? Editor: That's a really interesting question…Maybe that intrinsic value helped to explain all the creativity going on at the time. Curator: Yes. Seeing how symbols connect over centuries gives art tremendous emotional power. Editor: I hadn’t considered the weight that symbols give to artistic messaging; it creates such depth. Thanks!