Ornamentprent met dieren c. 1560 - 1620

Curator: Looking at this print, I am struck by a sense of fantastical chaos, a bestiary of strange long-bodied animals chasing and being chased, with wiry lines capturing their hurried movements. Editor: Indeed. This piece is titled "Ornamentprent met dieren," or "Ornamental Print with Animals," created sometime between 1560 and 1620, likely by Giacomo Franco. It's an engraving that showcases the Mannerist style popular during that period, where elegance and artifice were prized above naturalism. Curator: Mannerism suits the scene perfectly; the animals feel strangely distorted. Like characters escaped from Aesop's fables. That wiry linework emphasizes the almost neurotic energy—everything looks so tense, on the verge of bursting. There’s this great contrast between the wild activity and the stylized composure in the line work. It’s an odd sort of playfulness for a pretty horrific scenario. Editor: These animals weren't necessarily intended as simple depictions of wildlife, but were deployed as symbolic figures within the broader visual culture. For example, the camel often represents temperance and obedience, whilst a lion, or, fox can signal intelligence, and, occasionally cunning or deceit. Their specific meanings depended greatly on context, on who was commissioning and engaging with the art. I'm quite captivated by how even these animals could allude to deeper moral or even political meanings in society at the time. Curator: I agree that the artist is clearly embedding familiar symbolism and stories in new and strange combinations. Like the best stories passed down, some messages remain consistent while other evolve. Today, I suppose, this is what resonates for me—that strange juxtaposition of old and new, the familiar presented in such unexpected forms. That makes me curious about how symbols are constantly redefined. Editor: Well, for me it underlines how persistent the art and artist were during the renaissance; and now our reflections today further solidify this legacy!