Verbeelde spreekwoorden c. 1540 - 1572

Curator: Here, in the Rijksmuseum, we’re looking at Pieter van der Heyden’s “Verbeelde spreekwoorden,” or “Imagined Proverbs,” an engraving that likely dates between 1540 and 1572. Editor: Oh, my, what a bizarre and wonderful concoction! It looks like a Renaissance-era meme, overflowing with strange characters and cryptic vignettes. There’s almost a storybook darkness lurking in the shadows. Curator: Precisely. What appears as chaos is a carefully constructed visual inventory of Netherlandish proverbs. It speaks volumes about the social mores and anxieties of the time. Note how each character embodies a saying, offering a commentary on human folly. This piece isn't just visually rich, it is a social text for decoding a culture's values and warning against vice. Editor: You’re so right, there's such an intensity in their actions. Look at the central figure hammering away, seemingly trying to straighten a scythe or blade. Each gesture is almost theatrical, a little exaggerated. You’ve gotta wonder about the level of playful irony they aimed for in these illustrations, which clearly invite you to delve deeper. It’s so wild! Curator: And what about that first figure, walking while holding a cat with its head down his neck? It can be understood through our current, informed analysis. Every component holds a specific weight. “Wacht u voer die katzen die voer lecken en achter kratze", as written in old dutch. “Beware of cats who lick you and scratch behind you”, as the equivalent expression of “beware of hypocrites and false friends." It is a denunciation, warning against treachery, so in essence, a piece of early critical theory. Editor: Definitely! It’s almost like an elaborate puzzle of human nature. All I know is that these darkly whimsical images just pulled me into a world filled with so many questions about that period and still resonant for today! Curator: I fully agree; "Verbeelde spreekwoorden" provides such an important portal into understanding 16th-century social structures. It challenges us to question our preconceptions and engage with different perspectives that remain impactful. Editor: Absolutely, a feast for the eyes and mind—what more could you ask for, eh?