Kikvorsen before 1650

Curator: Welcome. We're looking at Antonio Tempesta’s "Kikvorsen" which translates to "Frogs", an engraving completed before 1650, here in the Rijksmuseum. It depicts two amphibians in the foreground, with a landscape scene playing out behind them. What strikes you initially? Editor: The stark contrast! It’s predominantly monochrome but incredibly detailed. The play of light and shadow on the frogs' skin, the textural quality achieved through line work alone, is mesmerizing. Curator: Tempesta, known for his battle scenes and landscapes, also produced these natural history prints. It’s interesting to consider the labor involved. This isn’t just art; it's knowledge production, contributing to early modern understanding of the natural world. How do you see the composition guiding our eye? Editor: The sheer scale of the frogs commands attention, then your eye traces the horizon, picking out the minuscule human figure, and livestock. Semiotically, the image posits a world seen from an alternative, amphibian perspective, reframing our notions of scale and importance. Curator: I think you’re onto something about scale, considering printmaking as a medium enabled wider circulation of knowledge and imagery across different social strata. A print like this could disseminate new perspectives about animals, landscape and human presence in the same space. Editor: Precisely! What meaning do you derive from the presence of "Bufo" and "Rostro" inscribed under each frog respectively? Curator: Tempesta likely borrowed them from existing encyclopedic inventories classifying natural life, suggesting perhaps these prints would have been bought to form part of a series. Editor: Interesting! Considering the density of the engraved lines, how they build tone and volume, the surface quality...I'm also wondering if the bucolic imagery operates on a symbolic level, too. Is there some commentary on human interactions with nature? Curator: Perhaps. Ultimately, understanding Tempesta’s context—the culture of scientific inquiry, printmaking practices, and patronage—offers a richer understanding of this seemingly simple image. Editor: Indeed. Paying attention to both the composition and its place within the social sphere, illuminates the many lives an artwork can contain.