Salomo (Salomon) knielt voor altaar met afgod, een satyr 1545

Curator: Ah, another fascinating piece. This one, made around 1545, is titled "Salomo (Salomon) knielt voor altaar met afgod, een satyr," by Hans Brosamer, rendered meticulously as an engraving. Editor: Well, immediately, I see conflict. It feels stiff, almost theatrical, but with a looming sense of consequence… Look at the fallen crown on the stairs, there's so much pressure embedded in this image. Curator: Precisely! Brosamer captured a pivotal moment, Solomon, swayed by his wives, kneeling before an idol—specifically, a satyr. It speaks volumes about the vulnerabilities of power and faith. The story traditionally is told in a more tragic manner... Editor: The satyr really pops out at you, doesn't it? A pagan symbol, quite graphically placed. But tell me, what does it all mean in the historical perspective, and is it even accurate? Is it a document or just a fantasy? Curator: History and fantasy interweave. This wasn't reportage; it’s an interpretation, moralising almost. The northern Renaissance saw artists wrestling with classical imagery within Christian narratives. A Satyr's imagery and other "idols" represent the allure of the profane distracting Solomon, that stands in stark opposition with his reputation for divine wisdom. Editor: I also feel the figures, each a cultural symbol: Solomon's crown and garb imply authority, challenged by pagan customs… a collision of ideologies made manifest! How heavy all those implications can rest upon a humble etching. Curator: Indeed. Brosamer invites us to ponder on our leaders, belief, their fallibilities and susceptibility, the ever-present clash of spiritual realms—all rendered with incredible detail in a print barely larger than my hand. Think of the message spread by means of engravings like this one at the time... The responsibility of image making... Editor: That tension is still vivid today. We wrestle with influences. We all do! What temptations threaten to unseat us. This gives so much insight of what concerned artists from this era! Curator: Absolutely! We began viewing an engraving, yet we embarked a spiritual journey. And if you will, now we will continue the way, and visit something different!