Aesculapius verpleegt zieken in een tempel 1702 - 1767

Editor: So, this print, "Aesculapius verpleegt zieken in een tempel" made sometime between 1702 and 1767 by Jacob Folkema, shows a scene of healing within a temple. There's a solemn feeling to it, almost theatrical, with the draped curtain and the suffering figures. What draws your eye when you look at it? Curator: Well, immediately, I feel transported. It's not just a temple; it's a stage! The drama is cranked up. Folkema isn't just showing us a historical moment; he's inviting us to witness a divine performance, almost like a macabre ballet where illness takes center stage. Notice the swirling smoke, the postures of the sick – all meticulously crafted to heighten our emotional response. It reminds me a bit of my own brief and disastrous attempt at community theater. Have you ever felt art pulling you into its own little fever dream? Editor: That's a vivid way to put it. The theatrical element really comes through now that you mention it. It feels staged. What about Aesculapius himself? What role does he play in this "macabre ballet?" Curator: Ah, Aesculapius. The ringmaster, perhaps? Or the tormented protagonist wrestling with mortality. See how he commands the scene, his gestures both deliberate and imbued with a world-weariness? Folkema cleverly contrasts the suffering around him with Aesculapius’s composed demeanor, adding another layer of emotional complexity. Is it compassion, stoicism, or a bit of both? What do you feel is truly within this ringmaster’s soul? Editor: I see what you mean. He’s definitely not a passive observer. The controlled emotion adds so much. It makes you wonder what he’s really thinking. Thanks, I'm definitely seeing the work differently now, thinking about the theatre of it all. Curator: And I’m pondering my second act in community theatre! There is an exquisite tension between action and repose, a story frozen in time, but perpetually unfolding within us.