Ornament met twee dolfijnen en hoornen des overvloeds 1642

Editor: We're looking at Wenceslaus Hollar's "Ornament met twee dolfijnen en hoornen des overvloeds" from 1642, an ink drawing held at the Rijksmuseum. The crisp lines and whimsical creatures give it such a lighthearted feel. What strikes you most about this ornament? Curator: The dolphins immediately catch my eye. They're not just decorative; dolphins often symbolize transformation, rescue, and love, connecting earth and sea. Hollar places them strategically, almost as if they're guardians of the "hoornen des overvloeds," the cornucopias. Notice how these horns of plenty are themselves filled with overflowing fruits and vines. Editor: Oh, that's interesting. I hadn’t considered that pairing. How does that fit within the context of the Baroque period? Curator: The Baroque period was fascinated by abundance and dynamic energy. The cornucopia, a classical motif, becomes a vessel brimming with earthly delights, symbolizing prosperity and divine favor. Hollar cleverly merges classical imagery with naturalistic details, hinting at the earth's fertility and humanity’s access to it. Consider how geometric the overall design is; then our eyes follow vines twisting around, mirroring a world constantly being shaped. Where does that geometric precision take your mind? Editor: I guess I didn't initially see it beyond ornamentation, but now it looks like it carries some heavy symbolic meanings! Curator: Absolutely. Images are rarely neutral. What we often consider a “decorative flourish” tells us a lot about prevailing worldviews. And this piece does more than meet the eye: Hollar connects us to cultural memory, using images like these to transmit messages about ourselves, the earth, and perhaps even something higher. Editor: Thanks so much. I never expected a simple ornament to reveal such depth! Curator: These images are so common we often fail to 'see' them! That in itself says much about what a culture takes for granted.