Passer met ijzeren pen en stuk van ijzeren geleidingsboog c. 1590 - 1596

Editor: This is “Passer met ijzeren pen en stuk van ijzeren geleidingsboog,” made around 1590 to 1596 by an anonymous artist. It's a drawing, and the materials are listed as wood and metal. It's so simple and practical-looking. How can a basic instrument like this resonate beyond its function? What symbolic meaning might it hold? Curator: What do you see in this piece? Consider that in the late 16th century, a tool like this, used for precise measurement and creation of circles, was much more than just a drawing instrument. Its form evokes divine harmony and the pursuit of perfect proportions that defined the Renaissance era. Do you think of Leonardo da Vinci? Editor: Definitely. The circle is such a fundamental, universal symbol...it almost makes you wonder if it symbolizes…divinity, perfection? Curator: Precisely! The compass, in creating that circle, mirrors the act of a creator bringing order out of chaos. Think of the compass as a symbol of knowledge, skill, and, more subtly, the ability to bring abstract ideas into tangible form. Consider how important geometry was, both for practical reasons such as constructing buildings, but also how it resonated theologically and philosophically with broader cultural values. Is there any specific material or element of its composition that strikes you most? Editor: I am struck by its material and texture, by how weathered the wood is. This piece gives an unusual insight into Renaissance arts as instruments. I was focusing on what the compass does rather than what the piece literally is. Curator: And that weathering, the signs of use, is what makes the symbolic value endure. The image transcends function because it links back to our perception, memory, and understanding. Editor: I had never thought that an everyday drawing implement would suggest grand cultural values! Thank you.