Titelblad: Les Cabinets c. 1680 - 1700

Curator: Here we have "Titelblad: Les Cabinets," an engraving produced circa 1680-1700. It’s part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, and although unsigned, is attributed to an anonymous artist. Editor: Wow, what strikes me immediately is this sense of baroque theatricality, wouldn’t you say? It feels like peeking into a miniature stage set with Poseidon himself holding court. Curator: Absolutely. This print exemplifies Baroque aesthetics through its intricate allegorical representations and elaborate ornamentation. We can explore its construction as a microcosm of the political theater in that era, considering how power and authority are visually communicated. Editor: Exactly, power! And I mean, look at Poseidon dominating the lower half—those rearing horses, the muscular figures...It’s an absolute assertion of dominance. Is there anything else that you believe supports this dominance? Curator: The arrangement indeed uses visual rhetoric to reinforce hierarchies. Consider the upper register, with the figures of virtues and the decorative flourishes—elements all strategically arranged to underscore established hierarchies and divine endorsement. Editor: Divine endorsement, of course! With baroque art you’re constantly trying to blur the earthly and divine realms. It reminds me a little bit of dreaming in Latin—utterly opulent but with this undercurrent of playful absurdity. It’s both intensely serious and vaguely tongue-in-cheek at the same time! Curator: Perhaps that’s not as far off as it might seem at first blush, because one might also engage from the frame of social commentary embedded within the symbolism of marine imagery, as emblems of trade, colonization, and naval prowess. That in turn might provide critical reflections on the maritime dynamics of the Dutch Golden Age. Editor: Well, whatever its meanings and layers, I am in awe of the artist, their way of manipulating depth using only lines! They manage to create all of these realms. I keep zooming into the individual features as if they're real, so skillfully done! Curator: Indeed. Considering both its artistic finesse and potential cultural resonances has offered new perspective. It highlights how engravings from that period operated as sophisticated carriers of culture and meaning. Editor: Agreed. So next time you see a man with a trident riding out from the ocean spray… give him a second look.