Verzoeking van Christus door Satan 1660

Curator: At first glance, there's almost a theatrical quality to this print – a dark stage set for some moral drama. Editor: Indeed. Here we have "The Temptation of Christ by Satan," an etching from 1660 by Nicolas Perelle, housed at the Rijksmuseum. What’s immediately striking is the way Perelle combines figuration with such an imposing landscape. Curator: Yes, the landscape practically swallows the figures. But what figures they are. Satan looks less monstrous and more like a somewhat pushy merchant presenting his wares, no? Editor: The devil's in the details, as they say! He embodies that age-old conflict: earthly power versus spiritual resolve. Note how Christ is positioned in the lower left corner of the image; he represents the beginning, the dawn of an age, whereas the tempestuous background is the old order falling to the way. Curator: Falling dramatically, I might add! The Baroque love for visual extravagance is on full display. Those cloud formations are almost violent; that craggy, steep cliff face, really the landscape seems to mirror the internal turmoil, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. This etching uses classical symbols within the new, bombastic language of the Baroque. The print utilizes an old narrative structure of stark good-versus-evil contrast to a landscape as emotional weather report, projecting the internal conflict on a massive scale. And those small figures in the foreground almost give the impression that humanity has lost dominion. Curator: A loss we grapple with still, eh? Editor: Certainly. So what appears on the surface to be a straightforward, biblically inspired artwork is in fact layered and timeless, isn’t it? Curator: Definitely. The artwork gives me a little something to think about as I consider navigating my everyday world. Thanks.