Retorica 1560 - 1600

Curator: "Retorica," an engraving dating from 1560 to 1600, credited to Johann Sadeler I after Maarten de Vos, is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The stark contrast, the fine lines of the engraving, create such a striking image. What catches your eye? Editor: The figure of Rhetoric herself. The symbols around her—the caduceus, the book under her foot, even the audience in the background—speak to her power. Given the emphasis on 'making' within Mannerism, can we see this as more than just symbolic? Curator: Absolutely. The act of *creating* this print itself is part of the rhetorical process, an attempt to persuade the viewer through skilled craftsmanship. Consider the labor involved. Engraving required immense skill. What impact might the mode of artistic production itself have had on the consumption of the image in 16th-century Europe? Editor: Perhaps the intricacy signalled status – suggesting this was for a discerning, educated audience, like a visual luxury good? Did the production encourage or discourage a wider interpretation of rhetoric beyond the elite? Curator: That’s insightful. The *material* conditions dictated that it *would* circulate to wealthier collectors as printmaking supported and expanded dissemination of ideas across Europe. So, while depicting a timeless concept, this print participated in the evolving political discourse facilitated by the print trade. Rhetoric wasn't just for orators anymore. Editor: That’s fascinating; the print exists as both an illustration *of* rhetoric *and* an instrument *of* rhetoric. So what could we conclude? Curator: Understanding the means of production and consumption gives us insight into who had access to this allegorical representation, highlighting the socio-economic structures intertwined with artistic creation in the Mannerist era. A dialogue emerges between artist, patron, and viewer. Editor: I now better appreciate the connection between the subject matter and its method of production in shaping its meaning. Thanks!