Emblem med to hjerter og Treenigheden 1609 - 1672

Curator: This intriguing emblem, "Emblem med to hjerter og Treenigheden," created sometime between 1609 and 1672, is housed here at the SMK. It's an anonymous work, skillfully rendered through engraving. Editor: Wow, it's like a visual puzzle! So ornate and symbolic. My first thought? This is Baroque visual poetry, delicate and heavy all at once. A beautiful little dance of the divine. Curator: It’s certainly layered with meaning. Emblems like this one were very popular in the 17th century. They combine imagery with text—though we don’t have the accompanying text here—to convey moral or spiritual ideas. It presents two hearts conjoined, framing depictions of Christ, the Holy Spirit as a dove, and God, united under a crucifix. The composition creates a powerful allegory of divine love and sacrifice. Editor: Sacrifice is the mot juste! I see those roses, but even their beauty is intertwined with thorny struggle. It’s more than just pretty; those images create so much tension with all that meticulous detail packed into a small space. Are emblems supposed to be pocket-sized sermons? Curator: In a way, yes. These images were widely distributed as prints. They served as devotional aids or mnemonic devices, tools for reinforcing religious doctrines in personal and public life. So while beautiful, they really existed to promote specific religious views in their day. Editor: So much purpose packed into these lines! The two hearts growing into one, each holding one aspect of the Trinity - the emotional link between humanity and the divine. Looking closer, it's not only meant to be instructive but also intensely intimate. I imagine this piece held very privately. Curator: That’s a good point; these prints offer an intimate access to matters of faith but also allow the individuals engaging with them an element of private interpretation of sanctioned materials. Editor: Thinking about it now, maybe that tension, that push and pull is there by design. To spark personal connection and questioning, through devotion...I almost feel as if this print now exists just to be reconsidered, as an object. Curator: Indeed, its role has evolved, and now centuries later it provides a space for contemplation beyond its original propagandistic intents, encouraging ongoing dialogue through faith, love, and artistry.