XXI Niet hoe veel, maer hoe eel 1614

Editor: We’re looking at "XXI Niet hoe veel, maer hoe eel" by Roemer Visscher, dating back to 1614. It’s an engraving printed on paper, and I am immediately struck by how cluttered the composition is on the right panel, particularly compared to the expanse of text on the left. What’s your take on this image? Curator: That's a keen observation. The print, appearing in Visscher's emblem book *Sinnepoppen*, should be seen within the broader context of Dutch Golden Age society, which saw a rise in mercantile power and the concurrent flourishing of art and literature. Notice how the maxim "Not how much, but how refined" appears above both the text and the image, and informs their juxtaposition. What do you suppose is being critiqued here? Editor: It seems the value isn’t in quantity –the ‘much’—but the refinement, ‘how refined.’ Perhaps the text contrasts an appreciation for the solitary lute player, over a mass of musical cacophony and less skillful artists? Curator: Precisely. Think about how printmaking itself democratized knowledge, allowing for wider distribution. But Visscher here seems to caution against quantity over quality. The lute is meticulously rendered, and it seems to stand apart. We also need to consider how these emblems functioned in society. They were moralizing tools for the educated elite. This particular emblem serves as a commentary on those in positions of power. Editor: So, Visscher's *Sinnepoppen* and its emblems played a social function, educating readers on refinement while indirectly pointing out the pitfalls of unskilled excess. Curator: Yes, it is interesting how this detailed rendering is ultimately a warning, isn't it? The message still resonates centuries later. Editor: Absolutely. I’ll certainly be thinking about "quality versus quantity" much more consciously now.