Tempel met scènes uit het Oude en Nieuwe Testament 1783 - 1851

Editor: This engraving is called "Tempel met scènes uit het Oude en Nieuwe Testament," or "Temple with Scenes from the Old and New Testament," created by Willem van Senus between 1783 and 1851. The work is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Its complex structure immediately drew my eye. The architectural elements are meticulously rendered, but what is the artist trying to convey with this organization? Curator: What strikes me first is the balanced asymmetry achieved through its engraving. Observe the contrast of the stark geometry of the temple against the organic forms in the surrounding etched garden and sky. Editor: I see, but I don’t quite understand how that enhances meaning, especially with so many distinct images inside the temple. Curator: The division into clearly defined sections encourages contemplation on the formal relationships between the Old and New Testaments. Note how the artist guides your eye vertically, juxtaposing scenes and figures. The light, shadow, and depth of line across its surface creates a unified reading experience. Do you perceive the subtle grid-like structure embedded within the temple façade? Editor: Yes, now that you point it out, the panels and statues do create this underlying geometric division. It brings a sense of order and rationality to the more emotional religious subject matter. Curator: Precisely. Van Senus has created a visually rich artwork. I find his composition highly successful because the individual sections form a whole greater than the sum of its parts. It uses complex relationships of binary opposition as its generative formal conceit. Editor: That’s interesting! I had only seen it as an illustration before, now I can appreciate its structure, too. Thank you.