Staande beer, en profil 1664

Curator: This is "Standing Bear, in Profile" by Marcus de Bye, etched in 1664. It's currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: First thought? Humbling. It's just this massive bear, presented so simply against this almost whimsical landscape. You can feel the weight of the animal. It's strangely calming too. Curator: It's interesting you say humbling. De Bye worked in a time when exotic animals were popular symbols of power and conquest. How does the portrayal here challenge or support those notions? Editor: Good point. It’s less a symbol of dominion and more... well, the bear simply *is*. It doesn't need conquering or parading. There's almost a casualness to its stance. De Bye gives us a snapshot. Curator: And notice how he achieved that through the etching technique, creating texture, especially in the fur, suggesting the animal’s bulk and weight with subtle use of line. It is rather skillful. Editor: Totally agree. The lines around the bear's fur evoke almost dreamlike quality. But that begs the question, what was de Bye trying to say? Was it ecological or was it symbolic? Curator: Seventeenth-century artists often used animal studies to explore philosophical or moral themes. I'd also be keen to study de Bye's connections to zoological or hunting practices, especially the place animals held in society and political imagination. Editor: Either way, this etching still roars with an effortless authenticity. I still can't get over how alive the landscape seems behind such a bulky beast, a juxtaposition that creates movement in an otherwise very simple piece. Curator: Well, thinking through the lenses of artistic creation and social awareness certainly lends itself to seeing it in new perspectives. Thank you for pointing that out. Editor: And thank you, from analyzing to free associating! Hopefully this shed some light on it for others too.