Emblem med mand, der lærer en hund kunster 1645 - 1659

Curator: This engaging little print, titled "Emblem med mand, der lærer en hund kunster" – or "Emblem with a man teaching a dog tricks" – was created by Christian Rothgiesser between 1645 and 1659. Editor: Wow, there's a whole world squeezed into this tiny frame. The first thing that hits me is the whimsy; that elaborate frame is just delightfully over the top. Like cherubic muscle-men bursting out, wings and all! Curator: It is a prime example of Baroque sensibilities. We see that dynamism reflected in the curling, ornate borders of the emblem itself, echoing the humanism of the era with those… rather robust cherubs. Editor: I'm drawn to the inner scene. The guy with the stick training his dog, and what looks like a dog show going on in the background! All these tiny figures and details are wonderfully crisp against this airy landscape, this idyllic backdrop. I love how something so obviously staged still manages to feel sort of free and dreamlike. Curator: The artwork presents an interesting dialogue between control and nature, wouldn't you say? This man asserting dominance over his canine companion within the untamed backdrop of a parkland. Think about the aristocratic obsession with gardens and controlled nature in that period. This image may reflect and comment on such norms. Editor: Perhaps! Or maybe it's just that training a dog can be ridiculously comical when it seems like YOU'RE being trained. What do I know. Look, overall I would simply enjoy this print for its beautiful and playful charm. And how the whole picture – frame included – becomes a stage for both discipline and joy. Curator: Indeed, the integration of these seemingly opposed elements in this singular space makes this image an incredibly complex artifact, full of social and artistic commentary from the time. Editor: Agreed, agreed! A nice little package to hold your attention.