Jongeman met Fortuna, Vader Tijd en Afgunst 1620 - 1687

Curator: This intricate engraving, "Young Man with Fortune, Father Time, and Envy," dating from 1620 to 1687, is attributed to François Collignon. The work currently resides in the Rijksmuseum. Its composition strikes me immediately. Editor: The baroque drama leaps out—a potent concoction of aspiration and despair, all rendered in this monochrome print. What a flurry of limbs and twisting forms. Curator: The work is undeniably a figuration of complex allegorical concepts, featuring a youth caught between various influential forces. Do you notice the fine line work which evokes dynamism within a static print? Editor: Certainly. I find the texture particularly intriguing, it hints at the very tangible processes of engraving. The hand pressure needed, the repetitive, careful labor in producing the lines, even down to the materiality of the metal plate and the ink applied to paper, suggests both a material object and an artwork steeped in its own physical construction. Curator: And consider how Collignon employed techniques to achieve dramatic tonal variations, enhancing the almost theatrical presentation of the figures. Envy looks particularly horrifying. Editor: Agreed. Given the time, I’m compelled to consider what resources—expertise, metal, ink—Collignon, and even those who came before him who perfected these skills, may have harnessed and who held control of such processes, ultimately informing not only the artwork's content but its access and dissemination. Curator: This engraving, rich in symbolism, invites contemplation on temporal power versus fortune. I think our guests might consider how fortune’s fleeting offer looks juxtaposed with the inevitability of time. Editor: For me, it really emphasizes that what seems like classical allegories actually emerges out of tangible craft and resource availability, offering unique insights to audiences now. Curator: Indeed, the confluence of Collignon’s artistry, technical engraving skill, and profound cultural meaning makes this work really something special. Editor: Yes, and recognizing this material reality lets the artwork’s nuances reverberate in new ways.