Wonderen van Ignatius 1610

Curator: This print, "Wonderen van Ignatius," was created around 1610 by Jan (II) Collaert and is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It’s quite fascinating how narrative is constructed here, like a very early comic strip. The aged paper lends an immediate historical weight. There’s a storytelling impulse embedded in each vignette, each with an intense drama of its own. Curator: The use of engraving, a precise and linear medium, speaks to a deliberate choice. Observe how Collaert utilizes the stark contrast of black and white to define form and space. It produces this intricate pattern, like woven texture throughout each scene. The figures' expressiveness also conveys the virtues central to the story. Editor: Yes, and that narrative is far from neutral. We are clearly positioned to marvel at Ignatius’s power. Look at the panels where he appears to liberate or heal. The gestures of those around him express desperation and gratitude, reinforcing Ignatius as this heroic, almost divine figure. It begs the question of who the intended audience was and what agenda was at play. Curator: The arrangement and composition serve to emphasize Ignatius's role in each miraculous event. From a formal standpoint, this sequential arrangement presents an almost diagrammatic depiction of divine intervention. Note the careful attention paid to linear perspective within each framed scene to lead the eye toward central figures, mainly Saint Ignatius. Editor: The framing of each “miracle” almost seals it off. I'm struck by what these tight narratives exclude – the wider social implications, any alternate perspectives. What do these "miracles" reinforce in terms of existing power dynamics? What happens to those who don’t receive divine intervention? Are their stories considered at all? The engraving inadvertently becomes a document of societal values. Curator: Interesting point, because I see more of the careful artistic process. Collaert emphasizes balance between visual storytelling and technical skill, all while showcasing linear precision and expressive gestures of forms typical of baroque engravings. I find that is what the artist most intended the work to convey. Editor: And there we find ourselves, caught between Collaert’s technique and his context – perhaps that tension is precisely what gives this print its enduring appeal. Curator: Indeed, this close consideration gives much more depth to this Baroque piece.