Muze met schrijftafeltje staand in nis 1511 - 1520

Editor: Here we have Marcantonio Raimondi's "Muze met schrijftafeltje staand in nis," made between 1511 and 1520. It's an engraving, and its delicate lines give it a rather contemplative, even severe, mood. What strikes you about it? Curator: The stillness, really. And the imagined space around her. That niche she inhabits isn’t just a backdrop, it's almost an extension of her thoughts. Do you ever feel that way, like the room you're in shapes your mood, the thoughts that rise to the surface? Editor: All the time! Especially when I’m writing essays… Is that writing tablet what makes you say that? Curator: Partly, yes. And, if she is a muse, what’s she inspiring? Whose thoughts is she shaping? Is she just a stand-in for intellectual pursuits in general? Is she the vessel or the inspiration? I wonder. See how the engraver uses simple lines to depict folds in the robe. So spare, so controlled! Almost like a conversation with emptiness itself. Don't you find it oddly powerful how little it takes to suggest the real? Editor: It's the economy of it, isn't it? Makes every line count. It’s also interesting how that blank writing tablet makes you, the viewer, wonder what could or will be written on it. Curator: Precisely! It’s a visual invitation, almost begging you to participate. So, where did your mind travel while considering this work? Editor: I was thinking about the power of suggestion. How a few lines can create an entire world of ideas. Curator: And perhaps even invite new ones. Which is the true mark of any good muse, don't you think?