De ijdele vrouw 1675

Editor: This is “The Vain Woman,” an etching by Giuseppe Maria Mitelli, from 1675, housed at the Rijksmuseum. The stark lines give it a rather unsettling feel, almost like a cautionary tale. What's your take on it? Curator: Unsettling is a good word. It feels like a scene plucked from a fever dream, doesn't it? The way the woman gazes into the mirror, practically worshipping her own reflection, with that peacock looming over her like a gaudy chaperone...it's all so over-the-top! It’s got elements of Baroque flair, with a touch of Mannerist drama. And is that text at the bottom? Almost like an epitaph for lost vanity. Editor: Yes! One block refers to a “superb woman” and the other to “death”. So, it’s an allegory, then? About the fleeting nature of beauty? Curator: Precisely! It's as if Mitelli is saying, “Go on, admire yourself. But don’t forget what awaits!” Are you struck by the composition here? Notice how her ornate dress draws the eye to the peacock versus the table of grooming accessories. Is she choosing the illusion of permanence over confronting it directly? Mitelli offers this with humor, right? Editor: The details become even more telling. Like the contrast between the peacock's flamboyant plumage and the rather…clinical mirror. I never thought of humor when looking at older works. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. There’s always a wink, even in the direst of warnings! I suppose reflecting on it more, death becomes slightly less…scary? Maybe a reminder that beauty has its place, just like our awareness of morality and time.