Triomflied over de Schilderkunst en de Dood (deel 3) 1660

Curator: This drawing, executed in pen and ink on paper, is entitled "Triomflied over de Schilderkunst en de Dood (deel 3)" which translates to "Triumph Song over Painting and Death (part 3)." It was created by Henrik Jordis around 1660 and currently resides in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: It feels intimate. The delicate script on the aged paper creates a very quiet, almost secretive mood. The way the ink bleeds slightly suggests the passage of time. It seems almost accidental in its rendering, raw and spontaneous, despite the highly controlled technique. Curator: Indeed, Jordis utilized precise, almost calligraphic, pen strokes to construct the text. Note how the contrasting dark ink against the pale paper establishes a visual hierarchy guiding our eye across the composition. What statements are you able to extract as core textual insights? Editor: It certainly appears to address the conflict between art and mortality. This could mean the societal anxiety surrounding the transient nature of human existence, particularly poignant amidst plague outbreaks or social upheavals, right? Perhaps even touching on the idea of how art can serve as an act of defiance, and memory beyond the inevitable doom we all face. Curator: Precisely. Considering the historical context of 17th-century Netherlands, with its preoccupation with mortality in the face of widespread disease, it becomes all the more understandable. The text laments Death in its entirety, with a plea toward ‘schilderkonst’, calling painting to be remembered. Editor: It’s fascinating how such simple materials—ink and paper—can encapsulate such profound existential themes, a very intimate window into that cultural framework. Curator: I concur, the artwork exemplifies how close visual examination, coupled with knowledge of socio-cultural forces, provides enriching experience and broader awareness in understanding an artwork.