Onderboezem met twee Korintische pilasters 1632 - 1693

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have an intriguing engraving by François de Poilly, entitled "Onderboezem met twee Korintische pilasters," which translates to "Chimneypiece with two Corinthian pilasters." It's dated sometime between 1632 and 1693, so smack-dab in the Baroque period. Editor: Oh, wow, that’s quite a detailed blueprint. It almost feels architectural, more diagram than decoration at first glance. What a sense of grandiose ambition—those pilasters are practically screaming for attention! Curator: Indeed. These meticulous details speak to the prevailing artistic and cultural currents. We must understand that the Baroque was closely associated with power structures of the time. Architectural elements became ways to showcase authority, often intertwined with gendered notions of power and dominance, think masculinity, the patriarchy and architecture. Editor: It's like a recipe for "powerful" living rooms, isn't it? All the ingredients are there: symmetry, height, Corinthian flourishes...It all seems a bit much by today's standards. Is it strange that this intense level of planned-out perfection sort of...bores me? Curator: The repetitive geometry can be a little off-putting at first. What’s more is to explore how gender influences artistic creation, and that includes power imbalances that exist within artistic circles. Whose vision gets prioritized, and whose stories get left out? Editor: Hmmm, maybe that's it. Maybe this diagram feels a bit like an assertion. Still, the level of detail in this engraving is quite impressive, the baroque-style forms flow so neatly, that despite everything I said earlier, I'd actually want this on my wall. Curator: And maybe there’s an odd parallel with modern architectural visualization: these detailed renders create not just objects, but worlds that attempt to shape people's realities. Editor: You've certainly given me a whole new appreciation for a "Chimneypiece"! Curator: Absolutely. Viewing through intersectional lenses offers an entryway for nuanced understanding of even seemingly conventional works.