Ornate goblet 1642

Curator: Look at this print, dating back to 1642 and currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Wenceslaus Hollar created this rendering of an ornate goblet using engraving techniques. Editor: It has an ethereal, almost ghostly quality, doesn’t it? The level of detail is astounding, considering the limitations of the medium at the time. It seems to depict opulence and celebration. Curator: It's amazing to think of the skilled labor required to create objects of such extravagant beauty and the context of courtly life in the 17th century. The material processes, from the mine to the table, dictated social structure. Editor: Absolutely. When you consider that such objects were usually commissioned by those in power, it reflects a lot about social power structures and class at the time. In addition, I wonder how the artist wanted us to view this. Is it something he sees as beautiful, or rather is it meant to exemplify power? Curator: The cup’s purpose surely impacted the creation of the object itself. Silverware like this may have had a function at ceremonies or used to indicate wealth at social gatherings. The symbolic weight assigned to these items adds another layer of meaning that the material composition cannot tell on its own. Editor: It reminds me how craft became separate from “fine arts” as well, since drawing was considered a finer practice to making crafts with your hands in the labor class. Curator: True! Now, consider who had access to materials to begin with. Guild systems reinforced barriers and often prohibited women or marginalized groups from becoming master crafters. Examining these objects can actually open conversations around historical inequalities. Editor: This examination is really important, especially if we contextualize art forms within history! Even today, this makes you really think about inequality in both creative practices and general fields of labor. Curator: Definitely something for audiences to reflect on as they enjoy the technical skills evident in Hollar’s engraving. Editor: The discussion surrounding materialism and the social dynamics influencing craftsmanship are just some elements that make this artwork so striking.