Het toneel met voorstellingen van Saul en David, 1582 1582

Editor: Here we have an engraving from 1582 called "The Stage with Performances of Saul and David". It looks like a play within a play, a theatrical space depicted on paper. It has such an ornate frame and the tiny figures within the "stage" are very detailed. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: What I find interesting is the visual layering. The print depicts a stage, itself presenting a scene. It's a reflection on representation, on how stories are told and framed – literally and figuratively. Do you think the artist wanted to tell us something about the power of narrative, about the "framing" of our perceptions, our history, our understanding? I see Saul's jealousy, David's bravery but moreover I feel as if these heroes were characters playing the heroes for us, just like in our very own world today. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely. It's like looking into a dollhouse and seeing historical drama unfold. What about the craftsmanship? The lines are so fine and precise. Curator: The detail is incredible. The engraver has captured so much texture and depth. It makes me think of the dedication, almost devotional practice, of these early printmakers. The dedication feels… theatrical. Editor: It’s all just so meta! I like that word – meta. It has made me feel really clever since I learnt about it last month… It feels self-aware and intricate all at once. Thank you, I didn't consider the dedication required for something like this. Curator: And the next time we consider heroism in the pages of history or the drama on a stage, we may need to pause to remind ourselves that there are two dimensions to things and there is perhaps another theatre that one could get lost inside too!