Two-handled bowl 1675 - 1700

Curator: Here we have "Two-handled bowl," crafted between 1675 and 1700 by Jacob Boelen. You’ll find it on display here at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: The metallic sheen! It feels opulent, but also strangely restrained in its form. Curator: Indeed. Its silver surface presents a fascinating study in reflectivity, while the bowl’s contours, subtly Baroque, are echoed in its minimalist decorative carving. The two handles offer compelling lines, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: The bowl-shape panels bring the stylized tulip mania that obsessed much of Dutch art from the early seventeenth century through a significant portion of the Dutch Golden Age to mind. It projects an air of luxury tinged with transience. Curator: Very perceptive. Silverware like this often signified social standing during the late 17th century. Consider the precise repetition of forms here, these scallops repeating with machine-like precision. And it presents that kind of order to suggest stability and control. Editor: But doesn't it also underscore vulnerability? Such fragile luxury, constantly polished to maintain its glint against encroaching tarnish! The delicate handle shapes make one think of carefully protected family legacies, handed down with strict stipulations. Curator: An intriguing idea. I see that you read an element of mortality in what I regard to be controlled Baroque idealism. Note how the curved surface amplifies any imperfections, while the chasing emphasizes form and surface. The medium—metal itself— speaks volumes. Editor: Yes, the metallic body certainly underscores its weightiness, the societal role of status made palpable. Considering its Baroque influences, it is still quite measured for the period! Curator: Well said. It showcases a keen sense of form and purpose from the artist. Thank you. Editor: An absolute pleasure, as always. Thank you.