Merkur 1550 - 1650

Editor: Here we have "Merkur," a charcoal drawing created sometime between 1550 and 1650 by Jacob Jordaens, currently residing here at the SMK. I am immediately struck by the figure’s confident pose, but the monochromatic palette feels a little subdued for a figure known for speed and commerce. What do you make of this drawing? Curator: It’s true, isn't it? One might expect a riot of color, something…flashier, perhaps, for Mercury, the winged messenger! Yet, Jordaens captures a different kind of energy here. For me, the beauty lies in the expressiveness of the charcoal lines – see how they define the muscularity of his form, but also capture a kind of internal thoughtfulness. This isn't just Mercury the messenger, but Mercury the thinker, maybe even the trickster reflecting on his latest scheme. What feelings does the hatching create in you? Editor: That’s an interesting point; I guess I was stuck on my assumptions about the character himself, but the hatching does lend a sense of depth and, strangely, quiet contemplation to the piece. It almost humanizes him. It's almost as if he’s lost in his own world for a moment. Curator: Exactly! And isn't that the magic of art? To pull us away from our pre-conceived notions and offer us a glimpse into a different perspective. Perhaps, we all could benefit from slowing down and contemplating the many sides of a character, even one as quick as Merkur! Editor: Definitely! Thanks for revealing this side of the artwork to me; I won't ever perceive Mercury the same way again. Curator: It's been a pleasure to re-discover it with you. Let’s see what other perspectives we can uncover on the rest of our tour.