Letter H in een omlijsting met de kop van een monster en een haas 1635 - 1694

Editor: We're looking at "Letter H in een omlijsting met de kop van een monster en een haas"—or, "Letter H in a frame with the head of a monster and a hare." Dirck de Bray created this pen and ink drawing sometime between 1635 and 1694. It’s… playful, but also a little menacing with that monster head peeking out. What’s your take? Curator: Menacing, playful – a perfectly balanced paradox! I love that description. I see this drawing as an invitation to let our minds dance between darkness and light. It reminds me of illuminated manuscripts – that same attention to detail, the whimsical combination of serious lettering with these quirky little scenes tucked inside. Editor: So, the monster and the hare aren’t random? Curator: Oh, never! Nothing is truly random, is it? I suspect they might be allegorical. The monster, maybe representing temptation or the unknown. The hare could symbolize vulnerability, or perhaps the swift passage of time. And together, they are framed by "H," so the allegory is contained, literally. It also reminds me a bit of dream logic. Editor: Dream logic… I like that. Curator: Yes! It's that feeling where disparate images and ideas collide to create something strangely meaningful. Think of it as de Bray offering us a peek into his own creative subconscious. What do you think – is he successful? Editor: I think so. I find myself wanting to decode every line, every curve. It definitely draws you in, pun intended! Curator: Ha! Indeed! And that’s the magic of art, isn’t it? To make us question, to make us dream, to make us… hmmm. Editor: Exactly. It is good to remember to give things a second look. Thanks!