Geometrie 1647 - 1718

Editor: This engraving, "Geometrie," dates back to sometime between 1647 and 1718 and is attributed to Nicolas Bonnart. There’s a real sense of aristocratic privilege here, wouldn’t you say? What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, seeing this portrait, I immediately think about the power dynamics inherent in the representation of knowledge during this period. The female figure, allegorically representing Geometry, is adorned in finery, positioned as a symbol of enlightenment but also controlled and framed by societal expectations. Who gets to possess knowledge and how is that access visually coded here? What does it mean to personify a field of study in this way? Editor: That’s interesting! I was mostly focusing on her elegant pose and elaborate dress. But framing her as representative of geometry… Is there a gendered aspect to it? Curator: Precisely! Think about the limited access women had to education at the time. This image, while seemingly celebrating Geometry, could also be subtly reinforcing patriarchal structures by idealizing the concept through a female figure, disarming its intellectual rigor, making the allegory passively available for male consumption. Editor: So it's about controlling access, even as it appears to be celebrating knowledge? That’s really subversive. Curator: The image can be read in multiple ways. The choice of the allegory and who it served are pertinent questions to ask. It pushes us to consider the role of gender, class, and representation in shaping our understanding of history, even in something as seemingly straightforward as a portrait. Editor: This has completely changed how I view the artwork. I went from thinking it was just pretty, to recognizing how art could reveal society's cultural complexities. Curator: That's the power of critically examining art, right? Seeing beyond the surface to uncover the layers of meaning reflecting social and political landscapes.