Standbeeld van Amor 1636 - 1647

Editor: This is "Standbeeld van Amor," or Statue of Cupid, created by Cornelis Bloemaert sometime between 1636 and 1647. It’s an engraving on paper, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It depicts a nude Cupid figure, wings and all, almost like a classical sculpture. It has quite a muted, stone-like quality due to the use of ink. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: Let's consider the material reality. This is an engraving. Think about the labour involved, the craftsman meticulously using a tool to carve into a metal plate. Ink is then applied, pressed onto paper. It's a process of reproduction, making Cupid – usually associated with aristocratic love – available on a mass scale. The Baroque period was deeply concerned with spectacle, but also with dissemination. Editor: That’s interesting. So it's less about the artistic vision of one person, and more about a collaborative, reproducible process? Curator: Precisely. Think about who is consuming these prints. Are they wealthy collectors or a burgeoning middle class seeking access to classical themes? And how does the act of engraving, this specific technique, influence the reception of Cupid? Is he de-romanticized, perhaps even commercialized, through this material process? Editor: So, by examining the means of production and distribution, we see how even a classical figure like Cupid can become a commodity reflecting shifts in social class and accessibility. Curator: Absolutely. It is through understanding the material processes involved that we are better able to engage with this Baroque piece. What did you think of this approach? Editor: Thinking about it this way helps reveal so much more about the artwork beyond just its surface appearance. It gives an entire new, socioeconomic context. Thank you.