Adelaar en slang 1670

Curator: Look at this dramatic piece, likely an engraving from around 1670. It's titled "Adelaar en slang," or "Eagle and Serpent," currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial feeling? It's a baroque showdown! The eagle looks majestic, pinning down this serpentine beast with a snarl that seems to echo centuries of conflict. It’s charged with emotion! Curator: Yes, you feel that drama right away! It's allegorical. The eagle likely symbolizes virtue or perhaps even divine authority, crushing the serpent, a classic symbol of evil or temptation. And, consider its production; the intricate details achieved through engraving is masterful, allowing such rich contrasts of light and dark. Editor: Exactly, I love how the artist used contrasting values. That blinding light behind the eagle seems almost celestial, adding weight to its purpose while that fierce-looking serpent writhes on the ground; I feel the struggle! And there's a little cherubic figure with a banner overhead too. Can you tell me about that? Curator: Ah yes, it adds another layer. That winged child is carrying a banner, its Latin inscription "Sterni/humi foedos hostes, & celia nitetur," means, "The foul enemies are thrown down, and heaven will shine." It's basically a pronouncement of the victory of good over evil, reflecting the religious climate and Baroque sensibilities of the period. The engraving’s grand title references a true history: that of the Council of Trent, too. Editor: That puts it in a historical context that suddenly snaps the artwork into place! The light and dark values become more potent metaphors, the tension becomes focused... Curator: Precisely! Editor: Well, looking at the print now, I sense this is a powerful visualization of dogma in times of intense belief, like an affirmation. The struggle of an enlightened eagle that triumphs over blind, earthbound hostility… a picture worth a thousand words. Curator: Indeed! The artist leaves us to ponder the endurance and impact of institutional histories that are still so evocative.