Colombina op de vlucht 1731 - 1788

Curator: Before us, we have “Colombina op de vlucht,” or “Colombina on the Run,” an engraving by Johann Esaias Nilson, dating from around 1731 to 1788. Editor: There’s such delicate movement captured with just line work. It’s whimsical and lively, a brief story etched onto paper. Curator: It depicts a scene from the commedia dell'arte, a form of Italian theater characterized by masked characters and improvisation. We see Colombina, the witty servant girl, escaping from—presumably—the amorous advances of the foolish old Pantalone, maybe aided by Harlequin there leaping over the fence. Consider how popular these characters were in the 18th century and their representations. They allowed people to satirize the elites through caricature. It’s inherently political. Editor: And formally, note how Nilson composes the scene within this faux-architectural frame. The water wheel to the side and the suggestion of a pastoral background give it a sense of depth, which is intriguing, with how meticulously defined the lines are. The frame itself, almost a proscenium, seems to comment on the performative nature of the characters' actions. Curator: Absolutely, the artificiality of the setting amplifies the commentary on social roles and expectations of the time. The chase can be read on many levels: as critique of social structures, and an opportunity to highlight female agency. Colombina might be on the run but she's calling the shots. Nilson lets us think about women's self-determination within societal confines. Editor: Thinking about it just as a formal element, this capture in print form of that fleeting movement feels very significant; the medium supports that playful dance with temporality. There’s something charming and deceptively simple in how he created all that texture. Curator: The choice to use a print allows wider distribution of these satirical ideas and making accessible commentary on class and gender. Editor: Nilson’s delicate but precise marks on the paper reveal so much in its layered meaning, even while constrained by its format. I see much elegance and sophistication at play. Curator: I completely agree! I invite you to linger and examine it from all the points we just discussed.