Onthulling en verheffing van de Waarheid door de Tijd 1550 - 1625

Curator: Look at this intriguing engraving, dating from between 1550 and 1625; it's called "Onthulling en verheffing van de Waarheid door de Tijd," or "The Unveiling and Elevation of Truth by Time." Editor: The tonal range is striking for a print, especially the cavernous darkness at the right balanced by the stark highlight illuminating the central figures. There is a clear dynamic pull between these zones. Curator: Absolutely. Pieter Jalhea Furnius masterfully presents a familiar allegory, typical of mannerism, of Time rescuing Truth. It is a fascinating work when considering post-Reformation anxieties around knowledge and interpretation. What constitutes Truth when systems of belief are fractured? Editor: I find the figure of Time quite commanding. He’s almost bursting out of the frame with his wings spread wide, wielding a scythe, pulling Truth upwards with force. Note the carefully inscribed lines creating an almost palpable texture to his wings and torso. Curator: It's hard not to consider this engraving within the context of gender and power dynamics of the period. The figure of Truth, though idealized in form, is passively led, quite literally, out of the shadows. It mirrors contemporary debates around women’s access to education and the public sphere. Editor: Yet, the detail of the engraving—those struggling figures chained in the shadows—adds a layer of complexity, as do the smaller figures gathering below. Note the repetition of horizontal lines here—figures trapped. And above, an elegant dance with serpentine forms weaving around the muscular limbs of time. Curator: It certainly urges a deeper analysis. In Furnius' hands, the scene transcends a simple triumph of virtue, becoming a potent commentary on knowledge, power, and liberation, echoing many questions still pertinent today. Editor: For me, it's the enduring tension created by its masterful use of line that really elevates the piece. It’s an exercise in dramatic contrast.