Vertumnus en Pomona 1723 - 1789

Editor: So, this is "Vertumnus and Pomona" by Jacob Hoolaart, an engraving made sometime between 1723 and 1789. The contrast between the two figures is really striking. What are your initial thoughts looking at this piece? Curator: The image presents us with a critical look at aging and beauty ideals through the lens of classical mythology, but it's filtered through an 18th-century perspective. Vertumnus, the god of seasons, disguises himself as an old woman to seduce Pomona, a goddess of fruitful abundance. Consider the power dynamics: why does he need to deceive her? Editor: I see your point! It’s unsettling now that I think of it. She looks so serene and youthful and he seems so… calculating, almost. It's more than just an innocent pastoral scene, then? Curator: Exactly. The "caricature" aspect shouldn’t be dismissed. Think about the social commentary: What does it say about the era's attitudes towards women and aging that this seduction involves deception and disguise? Consider, too, that female agency is often overlooked within similar historical depictions. Editor: It sounds like a very subversive image for its time. The artist almost seems to be questioning authority, which could extend beyond just relationships between men and women. Curator: Precisely. The work highlights anxieties about social roles, power imbalances, and challenges viewers to actively reflect on beauty standards imposed, even by mythology. It forces us to engage with its themes instead of simply observing. Now, consider how a contemporary artist might portray a similar story… Editor: That’s such a different reading than I expected! Now, I'm wondering about who Hoolaart made this for and how people received it back then. Thank you for sharing such insightful ideas, that was fascinating!