Drukkersmerk van Johannes Oporinus 1517 - 1568

Curator: Looking at this engraving, it's immediately striking how assured and celebratory it feels. Editor: Yes, a real sense of buoyant triumph. Before us is "Drukkersmerk van Johannes Oporinus," a printer's mark created sometime between 1517 and 1568, now residing at the Rijksmuseum. Oporinus was a significant figure in Renaissance printing. This engraving served as his emblem. Curator: Ah, so it’s branding! Tell me more. The central figure with a flowing drape and fiddle really pulls the eye, along with that dolphin. There is the sea underneath too. What do those images invoke for you? Editor: The figure, I believe, embodies the concept of virtue overcoming adversity. The man is likely Arion, a famed musician saved by a dolphin from drowning. See how he stands confidently upon the back of the sea creature? Arion represents artistic excellence, literary prowess, even survival. This tells me about Oporinus’ self-perception and also a particular political stance toward those around him. Curator: It's a very clear image. It has the message written in a semi-circle above: "Invia virtuti nulla est via." Editor: Precisely! "For virtue, no road is impassable," quite fitting for a printer navigating the complex world of Renaissance publishing. Curator: Absolutely, Oporinus himself faced censorship and religious conflict. His virtue being associated with navigating tumultuous paths resonates. And what of the dolphin, beyond its role in the Arion myth? Editor: The dolphin holds layered meanings. It's associated with safe passage, speed, and intelligence – all valuable assets in Oporinus' line of work. The sea itself represents both the dangers and opportunities inherent in disseminating knowledge. Curator: So, beyond personal branding, Oporinus is also making a claim about the power of knowledge, framed by classical ideals, right? It reflects the Renaissance project itself: retrieving classical values, and championing those through education and philosophy. Editor: Yes! Oporinus crafted an image meant to inspire confidence and signal the kind of works he championed—thoughtful, humanist texts, produced with integrity. A really great expression of personal and intellectual aspirations through emblematic imagery. Curator: I see the print not just as a relic from a particular printmaker but also as an inspirational symbol for our current world. This image encapsulates so much about cultural survival, freedom of thought and expression across time. Editor: Indeed. It's a visual reminder that perseverance, guided by wisdom and artistic merit, can overcome any obstacle.