Foedus, from Proposopographia 1580 - 1595

Curator: Let’s spend some time with this engraving, "Foedus, from Proposopographia." It's believed to be the work of Philips Galle, dating from somewhere between 1580 and 1595. Editor: My immediate thought is how effectively Galle renders texture, the lines defining form, the flowing drape of the woman's dress. The detail, created with such a direct process, gives a solidity to what would otherwise just be symbolic. Curator: Indeed. "Foedus," meaning "treaty" or "covenant," is represented allegorically. Observe the female figure holding a device with multiple strands, suggesting the binding nature of agreements. The figure and object, combined with the text inscription below, work together to embody the abstract idea of unity through covenant. Editor: The artist’s choice of printmaking itself echoes this idea. Engraving, with its laborious and meticulous process, involves many stages of transfer, reworking, and pressure. This itself reflects the layers involved in solidifying agreements between people. Curator: That’s a great point! Moreover, her contemplative downward gaze emphasizes the weighty responsibilities that such covenants demand. And there is an undercurrent of Mannerist influence throughout this period. Editor: I think looking at her garment also speaks of artistic production and labor. The layered fabrics, the delicate cap – are all testament to how things are brought together through work. Galle's choice of depicting this is so clever, a true visual condensation of complex historical realities. Curator: Seeing these historical artworks help us to think about current ideas of contracts and covenants today. Are our global systems of trade held together as well as we might imagine? What sort of image might Philips Galle produce if they were alive today? Editor: Well said, and that also prompts me to wonder what tangible materials hold up our own agreements. This image makes the implicit visible, provoking new approaches to systems of value, and the processes that create cohesion.