Allegorie met vrouw met beker staand op wolk 1595 - 1599

Editor: This is "Allegorie met vrouw met beker staand op wolk," or "Allegory with a Woman with a Cup Standing on a Cloud," made between 1595 and 1599 by Adam Elsheimer. It's an engraving. The woman seems so serene, but there's almost a monstrous figure at her feet. It definitely has this mysterious feeling. What’s your take on it? Curator: Oh, I love that you picked up on the juxtaposition! To me, this is pure Mannerist theatre. Elsheimer is playing with the idealized female form against the grotesque shadows, and not to forget a historical narrative as well. Think about it: She's literally standing above the chaos, holding this cup – almost like an offering? I wonder if this cup has reference to purification by fire given her standing in the cloud above flames? It really prompts you to look further, doesn’t it? What comes to mind for you? Editor: Hmm, an offering… like she's appeasing something? The swirling clouds and the almost sinister figures below do suggest that she's maintaining order or peace of some sort. Do you think this interpretation of the subject would have resonated at the time, that of “pureness?” Curator: Absolutely! In that period, visual allegory was like visual code. The woman is a vessel and her “feminine virtue" gives the whole idea gravity, she symbolizes a bigger message for the commoners, that perhaps virtue conquers over all evils. I mean look, there's another light by her which brings you into her intimate conversation to those who know this kind of history, this isn't a mere act. That's what I mean, the theatrical elements are very mannerist. Does that resonate? Editor: Totally. It's like understanding the language of that era. Curator: Exactly. And the best part is, it also becomes our own modern-day "choose your own adventure" as we make it what we want from our lived experiences and ideas. That to me, is beautiful art. Editor: Well, I’ll never see an allegory quite the same way again!