Jongen met een stier c. 1566

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a fascinating intaglio print by Nicolò Boldrini, dating back to around 1566. It’s entitled “Boy with a Bull.” Editor: It’s stark, isn’t it? The composition is almost entirely lines. They delineate this pastoral scene. But something about the sharp contrast lends it a certain solemnity. Curator: Precisely. Notice how Boldrini employs engraving to define form and space? The density of the lines suggests shadow and volume, especially on the bull’s flank and beneath the gnarled branches. The starkness you mention arises from the pure line work; there's little attempt to blend or soften. Editor: To me, this bull looks more like a representation of the Minotaur myth than an animal; powerful, ancient and wild. Note that there are small human buildings on the right, almost at the horizon. It evokes a sense of civilization being watched by something primordial, where even the shepherd looks intimidated. Curator: That’s a shrewd interpretation, grounding the composition in those narratives. While the subject matter, a boy leading a bull, could represent the humble shepherd life, its rendering is quite intellectual. This suggests that Boldrini engages with artifice and ideas. It has a structured purpose. Editor: Definitely. Think about this child herding it along. Bull imagery frequently symbolizes raw masculine power, dominance. Is there a symbolism where a small child would appear to attempt control or governance over those larger powers? The single branch in his hands would become almost like a scepter or the singular key to unlock the greater force within it. Curator: That's a compelling reading through symbolic structure and a deep association with the Minotaur story. Through analyzing its lines, values, and forms, you get to unlock deeper cultural understandings that it reflects. Editor: Indeed. The somber light, the figures…they combine in my mind as archetypes representing forces always at play within us. The picture serves as a reminder that even apparent tameness contains the potential for primal force. Curator: Well, both readings reveal how Boldrini manages to elicit these thoughts even in such an austere and deliberately designed format. Editor: Exactly, a beautiful, subtle engraving containing potent ancient motifs.