Beeld van Cybele in de oostelijke galerij van het Stadhuis op de Dam 1655

Editor: This is a print from 1655 by Hubert Quellinus titled "Beeld van Cybele in de oostelijke galerij van het Stadhuis op de Dam," depicting a sculpture of Cybele. It looks to be an engraving and etching, if I'm not mistaken. The goddess, with her regal crown, seems so… distant. Regal, certainly, but also somehow untouchable. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Distant, yes! But perhaps that distance invites curiosity rather than just awe? Quellinus offers us more than just a representation. It's a whisper from the 17th century, echoing classical ideals reimagined. Notice the lions, Cybele's companions; they symbolize her power over nature, but there’s something domesticated about them here, softened maybe? What does that suggest about the Dutch perspective on power and nature at the time? This was the Dutch Golden Age, remember – a period of unprecedented prosperity and a burgeoning sense of national identity. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered! The lions felt almost… decorative to me. So the softened lions hint at the Dutch taming or curating of power? Curator: Precisely! Think about the Stadthuis itself, this image documents a relief originally crafted for its eastern gallery. It wasn't a temple; it was a civic space. Quellinus's print, through its delicate lines, isn't just showing us an image. It invites us to consider how a society chooses to represent itself, and what stories it wants to tell about its place in the world. Editor: So much meaning embedded in the choices! I had simply thought of it as a Baroque print of a classical sculpture. Curator: And that’s perfectly valid! But art is a layered cake; each slice offers a new taste, a different understanding. Next time you see a lion, maybe you will consider it with fresh eyes. Editor: I certainly will. It's a really elegant composition. Thanks for untangling a piece of this historical context!