Engel en kind bij zonnewijzer 1590 - 1624

Editor: Here we have Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert's engraving, "Angel and Child by Sundial," created sometime between 1590 and 1624. I am immediately struck by the somber mood; the child appears to be in distress. What symbols or hidden meanings do you see in this piece? Curator: The image presents a wealth of intertwined symbols relating to mortality and faith. Notice the sundial. What does it tell us about time? And what is its relationship to the figure? Editor: It marks the passage of time, right? Reminding us how fleeting life can be? The child is recoiling, shielding their eyes... perhaps from that realization? Curator: Precisely. And that brings us to the angel. Is it comforting or jarring in its presence? Its light is intense and appears almost invasive, contrasting with the darkness of the landscape in the background. It also bears consideration that the text, which you see in the lower part of the print, originates from the Book of Job. What does the presence of text accomplish in art? Editor: Ah, I see, it’s like a direct plea, giving the image a narrative and emotional depth! It places the artwork in a religious and philosophical context, and amplifies that theme of human suffering in a world where even time seems to conspire against us. The figures become more than themselves! Curator: Exactly. So, how do all these symbols collectively function within this image? Editor: It portrays a baroque meditation on faith and the human condition, where time is an indicator for life, and mortality coexists with divine presence... that is an unsettling, yet captivating realization. Curator: I concur, seeing the image now also from the lenses of faith and existential inquiry truly enriches its appeal.