Portret van Diana 1707

Curator: Oh, marvelous! Is that Jan Goeree's "Portret van Diana," an engraving from 1707? It's nestled in the Rijksmuseum’s trove, isn’t it? Editor: That's the one! I'm struck by the, almost playful quality, despite the rather formal allegorical theme. There are cherubic figures wrestling what appears to be a very unwilling hound! How do you read all the symbolic imagery? Curator: Well, Diana, or Artemis, was never one for subtlety! It's all wonderfully, deliriously Baroque! A heady mix of high art and bawdy humor. I love the detail of the hunting horn, and that coy glance of Diana. Do you see how she both embodies power, almost regal detachment, and a playful huntress spirit? Editor: Now that you point it out, there's a clear sense of contrast in her depiction! The upper half presenting an image of the aloof goddess, while the lower part of the work descends into something more sensual and chaotic... I wonder if that was a common sentiment in the Baroque era, a tension between restraint and exuberance? Curator: Exactly! It's a push and pull – think of the era, all powdered wigs and clandestine affairs! Perhaps Goeree is slyly commenting on that dichotomy. Are the hunting dogs straining, or is it excited joy? What does it say about our inner animalistic and civilized nature? This print opens up worlds! Editor: This has been insightful! I never would have looked so closely at the balance of chaos and order, but that feels spot-on. Curator: Indeed. The thrill, my dear friend, is always in the chase... the decoding.