Bust of Apollo 

Editor: Here we have Jacob de Wit's "Bust of Apollo," a pencil drawing residing at the Städel Museum. The soft lines give it a rather gentle, almost melancholic air. How do you interpret this work, especially given its subject matter? Curator: It’s interesting to consider how de Wit grapples with representing Apollo, a figure traditionally associated with radiant masculinity and power, through such delicate lines. We have to ask: what is De Wit trying to say by portraying Apollo with this undeniable softness? It feels like an intentional subversion. Does it perhaps point to the constructed nature of idealized masculinity in the Baroque era and beyond? How can we situate it in its social context? Editor: A subversion, interesting. It also feels very romantic and idealized, but maybe in a different way than the original intention of these portrayals. Curator: Precisely! By taking the classical and filtering it through a Baroque sensibility, we see the beginnings of challenges to singular, rigid definitions of masculinity. Notice the androgynous features, the slight softening of the jawline, the almost longing gaze. Could this image also be a meditation on beauty, and who gets to be seen as beautiful, as desirable? Where do you think class and status would factor in during the Baroque period? Editor: So, it’s not just a beautiful drawing of a mythological figure. It prompts us to question historical ideals, power dynamics, and perhaps even allows us to reimagine them. Curator: Exactly! It invites us to critique these narratives and see how they’ve shaped and continue to shape our understanding of ourselves and each other. Editor: I'll definitely be looking at Baroque art with new eyes now! Curator: As will I. The beauty of art lies in its power to inspire these dialogues, allowing us to engage with the past to better understand our present.