Mars 1586 - 1590

Curator: This is Hendrick Goltzius' "Mars," a print from around 1586 to 1590, here at the Rijksmuseum. I always find something new in its fine, intricate lines. Editor: Oh my, the bravado! He looks like he's just walked off a particularly chaotic stage production of a Roman tragedy. That helmet... it's practically a character in itself. Curator: It's the Mannerist style at its height, right? Exaggerated form and all. You have this classic mythological subject, but twisted with almost...comic flair, perhaps? He’s more showman than warrior, that much is clear. Editor: Exactly! I get the sense of theatrical self-display, it has nothing to do with the horror of real battle. Is that spear even sharp? Curator: Maybe Goltzius is commenting on the role of Mars, on the idealized or perhaps performative nature of war itself within society. These prints often circulated among collectors and artists, shaping perceptions of history. Editor: Interesting point about the performative nature. It does make you think about how power, even perceived power, is often about image and presentation. He looks very confident about...something. Though I'm not quite sure what! Curator: His confidence, even if somewhat ridiculous, it draws you in, doesn’t it? It challenges us to question what is truly powerful, or what we’re supposed to view as so. The whole image is an act of playful questioning, I think. Editor: Absolutely, it reminds me how important context is, we read images from other historical settings through today's lenses and expect them to speak directly, but so much meaning is buried under changing cultural landscapes. What’s obvious in one period becomes cryptic poetry in another. Curator: Well put. This seemingly simple print sparks layers of dialogue. It's quite revealing, really. Editor: It does. Mars as a thought experiment, perhaps? A rather delightful and provocative one at that!