Ornamentele letter U 1745 - 1765

Editor: Here we have "Ornamentele letter U," an ink drawing on paper, dating from 1745-1765, by Lorenzo Lorenzi. It's currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. I'm struck by the whimsical nature of it. What first grabs your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, aside from instantly wanting to adopt those fabulous goat legs and nonchalantly perch atop foliage, I think it’s how it marries the fantastical with the functional. I imagine this wasn’t just doodling, was it? Someone probably envisioned this ornate letter initiating a chapter or embellishing a royal decree. Editor: So, it’s not just art for art’s sake? It served a purpose? Curator: Precisely! And within that purpose lies playful symbolism. Notice how the creature, seemingly a hybrid of human and animal, clings to the vine. Is she embracing or escaping the constraints of language and societal structures? Perhaps both! Tell me, does the presence of the birds say something to you? Editor: The birds… They do add to that sense of whimsicality, a lightness. Maybe they represent freedom, echoing the ambiguity you mentioned. Curator: Yes! You know, it's funny; every time I look at this piece, I feel like I could write an entirely different interpretation. It speaks to me of freedom of form. It makes me wonder what new and strange forms letters might take in the future, how we might bend language. Editor: It’s definitely given me a new perspective on the artistry of something as simple as a letter. I didn't know language could feel like this! Curator: Me neither, until just now. See what can happen when we sit together to explore art?