David en Batseba 1692 - 1737

Editor: This is Pieter van den Berge's engraving, "David and Bathsheba," created sometime between 1692 and 1737. It's incredibly detailed for an engraving. There’s a tension between the classical setting and the intimate scene. What do you see in it, especially thinking about the time it was created? Curator: Well, first it's important to consider where something like this would be displayed and consumed. Engravings, especially depicting biblical scenes with erotic undertones like this, often circulated in private collections or portfolios. How do you think the political climate or social norms of the time may have affected how this print was received? Editor: Hmm, maybe it offered a permissible outlet for certain desires? Safe, because it was a history painting, but still... titillating? Curator: Precisely. Consider the role of patronage too. This wasn’t destined for a church. It was likely commissioned or bought by someone within the emerging bourgeois class eager to display wealth, knowledge of classical themes, and maybe a subtle critique of traditional power structures, all through the safely distanced lens of historical narrative. What impact does the presence of French text have on its interpretation and intended audience? Editor: I suppose it's designed for a refined, possibly international audience? I hadn’t thought about the way these smaller engravings circulated ideas so widely! Curator: Exactly. It tells us something about the cultural networks and aspirations of the owning classes, doesn't it? Even a "historical" piece reveals a great deal about its contemporary moment. Editor: I now understand it much better in terms of social commentary, because before I had never thought of the politics of its production and consumption!