Bisschopsstaf met tronende Maria met Christuskind 1475 - 1480

Editor: We’re looking at "Bisschopsstaf met tronende Maria met Christuskind," a drawing created between 1475 and 1480 by Martin Schongauer. It depicts a bishop's staff with the Virgin Mary and Christ Child, and it seems to be ink on paper. What immediately strikes me is how delicate and detailed the linework is. How do you interpret the piece and its function, knowing it’s on display at the Rijksmuseum? Curator: Well, let's think about the role of religious imagery in the late 15th century and how that influenced the art market. A bishop's staff wasn’t just a functional object; it was a potent symbol of authority and spiritual power. Schongauer, who had a successful printmaking practice, likely created this design either as an autonomous artwork that mimicked metalwork for sale, or as a preliminary design for metalworkers to then create in silver or gold. Consider how such an object reinforced the Church's social standing and perhaps even projected power, not just within the church, but through visual spectacle, at a time when societal norms were firmly dictated by religious institutions. What’s the implication of it being displayed at a museum like the Rijksmuseum? Editor: That's fascinating! So, its function shifted from a practical or symbolic church object to an object worthy of display for its aesthetic and historical value. I guess displaying it in the Rijksmuseum distances it further from its original, religiously-charged context. Curator: Precisely. The museum bestows upon it a different kind of authority - an art historical authority. This impacts our viewing experience; it reframes our understanding of its initial function, transforming a once-active religious artifact into an object of artistic and historical inquiry. Are we viewing it for its religious significance or for its artistic qualities, and can we truly separate those aspects? Editor: It is difficult. Thinking about that shift makes you wonder who had access to this object originally versus who gets to see it now. I learned a lot, and I now see how intertwined the object's function and history truly are. Curator: Indeed. It showcases how institutions curate not just objects, but also their histories and the power those histories represent.