Aarde 1565 - 1630

Curator: This engraving, attributed to Antonio Tempesta, is titled "Aarde," dating roughly from 1565 to 1630. The Dutch word translates to "Earth," as in, the planet, and you can find it here in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh, immediately striking! It's bursting with vitality. The composition has such a robust, almost overflowing feel to it—but quite fantastical and removed from any reality I’m used to, in a lovely way. Curator: I see what you mean. Tempesta definitely embraces Mannerist conventions here. Notice how the composition feels almost deliberately crowded and dynamic, creating a sense of abundance. And also observe that the chariot, teeming with vegetation, carries a female figure, presumably the allegorical representation of Earth herself. Editor: Right, it looks as though she is generously presenting something in that enormous cornucopia, or perhaps it’s the handle to drive the cart. There are layers upon layers of symbol here: I feel like I need to study that cart closely, from its spokes to its content. And what an odd collection of animals pulling that chariot… the lion, an ibex? So much wild power! Curator: Precisely! Those animal pairings weren't chosen randomly. They symbolize aspects of Earth’s dominion, both its fertility and its untamed, potentially chaotic nature. Editor: It's also visually fascinating how the landscape recedes. We go from that really tactile foreground with all the animals, to a horizon populated with creatures almost too small to see—elephants and… are those camels? It feels so dense and detailed, so precisely wrought. Curator: Tempesta truly excelled at rendering textures, particularly in the fur and vegetation, and uses light and shade to model forms and create depth within the predominantly linear engraving. But the scene is also quite active. Editor: Yes, so, I love this marriage of stillness and energy. There’s something so potent about these depictions of allegorical figures, and how they help visualize abstract ideas like Earth, Power, and whatever it may be. This piece makes me feel invigorated and makes me feel quite playful about my connection with our planet. Curator: For me it is exciting to examine how historical, allegorical depictions still carry relevance for contemporary perspectives, perhaps offering imaginative ways to think about ecology, and our own stewardship of the Earth.