De Parnassus 1677

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the sheer density of the composition. The forms press against each other. Is it intended to invoke the drama and tension of creative inspiration? Editor: Let's explore Paul van Somer II's "De Parnassus," an engraving created in 1677, which resides at the Rijksmuseum. Curator: Ah, Parnassus! We are drawn into the domain of Apollo and the Muses. The figures below, those crowned women, surely are representative of the nine Muses, who inspire artists in all disciplines! Editor: Observe how Somer uses contrasting line weights to create depth. The foreground figures possess a finer, more detailed quality, whilst the landscape fades away towards the background. Curator: Yes, and how the composition, an oval shape, directs our attention inwards, to the wellspring of creative fire, which are located above among gods and cherubs, with Apollo shining his divine radiance on artists! Notice how they appear active, collaborative. The cherubs even look as though they are handing out musical notes like gifts! Editor: Considering Somer’s training as a painter and engraver, his Baroque approach is most apparent in the dynamic posing of the characters and the swirling cloudscape in the upper portion of the piece. The forms feel alive. Curator: Precisely, each gesture is deliberate. Even the Pegasus, poised for flight. In its totality, the engraving creates a profound visualization of the source and character of creative inspiration. Look at how, despite the apparent classical setting, Somer integrates the Christian elements by rendering cherubs, which blends the humanistic vision of arts and classical idealism. Editor: One is left with an admiration for how artists from any era channel classical myths to explore their relation with creation. It showcases their attempt at grasping something universal about human artistry. Curator: I’ll carry this visualization of inspiration—the collaboration, the activity— with me for a long while! Editor: Agreed. The level of detail and the story rendered by Somer offers many enriching avenues of thought.