Visser 1660

Curator: Standing before us is "Visser," an engraving by Giuseppe Maria Mitelli, created around 1660. It’s currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: It's... interesting. There's a lone figure with oversized calves and he looks to me like he’s been out far too long in the hot sun. Almost like a caricature, a really elegant one though. Curator: The artist employs line to create a sense of depth and texture. Consider how the cross-hatching defines the folds of his clothes and the netting he carries. It invites contemplation of form, almost architectural, if you will. Editor: Absolutely, and yet, the engraving makes me think about folk stories or fables. The man has all this fishing equipment but something tells me he isn’t successful at all. He just looks forlorn and overworked! Perhaps a depiction of hardship in a world teeming with stories that have happy endings only on occasion? Curator: Such a reading speaks to a deeper societal commentary, and of course, such observations are interesting. From a purely technical standpoint, notice Mitelli's use of negative space, creating dynamism despite the simplicity of the subject. The figure appears to be very animated within a carefully constructed framework. Editor: What’s striking to me is the sense of his resilience. This fisherman just keeps on keeping on in spite of it all. I also love how it could be set anywhere, at anytime, its got that timelessness that’s captivating to consider. Curator: Indeed, that tension between the specificity of form and the ambiguity of content creates its enduring appeal. Editor: You know, it's pieces like this that always end up capturing my attention. The world needs constant reminding of where the magic hides - within the minutiae.