Three sphinxes climbing a vine, from 'Ornaments or Grotesques' (Ornamenti o Grottesche) 1650 - 1656

Editor: Here we have Stefano della Bella's "Three sphinxes climbing a vine, from 'Ornaments or Grotesques'," an etching from the mid-17th century. It strikes me as so whimsical, almost playful. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: Well, beyond the delightful grotesquerie of it all, consider the historical context. These images, emerging from the Baroque period, reflect a fascination with classical antiquity, yet twisted through a distinctly European lens. Della Bella presents these sphinxes—powerful, often feminine figures in mythology—not as symbols of regal authority, but engaged in the act of climbing, striving. Editor: Striving how? Curator: Think about what it meant to depict feminine power in the 17th century. These sphinxes are literally scaling social and intellectual heights, a vine symbolizing both connection and constraint. Do you see how the vine acts as a decorative element and also a limiting structure? It's suggestive of how societal expectations simultaneously elevated and confined women of the era. Editor: So you are saying that the climbing motif reflects something of the tension surrounding women? Curator: Precisely. This print allows us to explore the relationship between representation and lived experience, offering insight into the cultural anxieties around feminine ambition and power. And, too, think about "grotesques" as a genre. Where does beauty reside here? What is being satirized? What norms are being turned on their heads? Editor: I never thought of it that way; I focused only on the beautiful etching style. I appreciate understanding the political context of feminine strength and power. Curator: Exactly! That is how a historic work opens itself to today.