Leeuwen- en leeuwinnenkop 1729

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a fascinating engraving by Bernard Picart from 1729, titled "Leeuwen- en leeuwinnenkop," which translates to "Heads of Lions and Lionesses." It showcases two studies of lions’ faces, side-by-side, in that unmistakable Baroque style. Editor: It feels so raw, so immediate, doesn't it? Like I've just walked into the artist’s studio and caught him sketching some royal beasts from life! They've both got this really soulful expression... Curator: Picart's print is especially interesting to consider through the lens of printmaking production at the time. Engraving, of course, involves meticulously carving into a metal plate. This labor-intensive process, in turn, facilitated the widespread distribution of images and ideas throughout Europe. The "how" it was made became integral to "what" it communicated. Editor: True. You can see every scratch of the burin creating the texture of their fur, and it also looks as if he was playing with light in creating shadows using nothing more than a fine blade. I can feel that texture, that roughness. Is it me, or does the lioness seem...melancholy? There is so much gentleness, almost vulnerability, captured here. Curator: The commercial aspect shouldn't be overlooked; engravings such as these were crucial tools for disseminating knowledge, decorative arts, and even propaganda. Think of the networks of trade and consumption required to get the paper, inks, and the print itself into the hands of an eager buyer. That process of making art reproducible, of democratizing art ownership… It transformed society! Editor: And beyond commerce, the faces! They’re far from generic studies; they hint at characters. One seems reflective and wise, the other perhaps caught mid-thought, distracted. It invites the viewer to build whole stories. Curator: A piece of material culture then, reflecting and shaping its world! Editor: Leaving us to wonder about our world and where it's all heading with eyes wide and our heads cocked.