Gevecht tussen mannen, dieren en fabeldieren 1528 - 1583

Editor: Here we have "Gevecht tussen mannen, dieren en fabeldieren" – that’s "Fight between men, animals and mythical creatures" – an engraving by Étienne Delaune, dating from between 1528 and 1583. The Rijksmuseum holds it now. It feels chaotic to me, all these figures and creatures intertwined. What strikes you most when you look at this? Curator: That chaos you sense? It’s deliberate, a hallmark of Mannerism! Think of it as a visual feast gone slightly mad. Look at how Delaune crams so much action into a narrow space. It's less about telling a clear story and more about showing off his skill – the muscles, the flowing lines. The way the bodies twist and turn feels almost…decorative. Almost like he’s designing jewellery, don’t you think? Editor: Jewellery? I see what you mean! There’s definitely a swirling, almost ornamental quality. I guess I was expecting something grander, given the epic title. Curator: Grandeur, perhaps, turned inward. The Mannerists were reacting against the High Renaissance ideals of balance and harmony. This print becomes this… writhing, unsettling, beautiful knot. And look at the bestiary! Real creatures battling with the imagined, boundaries blurred. Almost a comment on the instability of our own reality, no? Editor: So, it’s about the artist flexing, showing skill, and less about narrative? But what about all the spears and shields? It feels violent. Curator: Violence is certainly present – a theatrical violence, like actors striking poses in a play. And the spears and shields…think of them as props. Symbols less of real conflict, and more about creating drama. Editor: This has really made me rethink how I see prints. I always thought they had to tell some sort of a story. Curator: And that, my dear friend, is the magic of art! We think we know the rules, and then – BAM – someone breaks them beautifully. That's Delaune for you, a rebellious jeweller of mayhem!