Onmatigheid 1528

Editor: This is Heinrich Aldegrever’s "Onmatigheid," made in 1528. It's an engraving, and honestly, it gives me a bit of an uneasy feeling. The woman, the serpent...it's all a bit unsettling. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, yes, "Onmatigheid," or "Immoderation." I always think Aldegrever has such a keen eye, doesn't he? Tell me, what do you feel that serpent *does* for this piece, aside from the unsettling sensation? What if she held a dove instead? Editor: I think the serpent gives the woman this dark sort of power, or maybe it implies a loss of control? A dove would certainly change that. It would become more peaceful. Curator: Precisely! Notice her downward glance, that serpentine grasp... I see a subtle commentary on temptation, perhaps a reflection on societal anxieties about female autonomy during the Northern Renaissance. Think about Eve, about power dynamics at play during this period… what is immoderation to you? Is it inherently bad? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about it that way. It’s complex. Maybe “immoderation” speaks to something in excess, it makes you consider boundaries, or lack thereof? It is pretty powerful symbolism when you put it that way, but also… yeah, still uneasy. Curator: Isn’t it fascinating how a single image, centuries old, can still evoke such a strong, personal response? And perhaps reveal just a tiny glimmer of a truth or idea that still resonates. Editor: Definitely. I’ll never look at snakes the same way! I learned that artworks really are like time capsules! Thank you.