Perseverantia 1557

Curator: This is "Perseverantia," a print by Hans Collaert the Elder. It's housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, and what strikes me is the figure's calm amidst what feels like...a rather soggy landscape. Editor: Indeed. Her unwavering gaze suggests a resilience that transcends her immediate surroundings, even as that duck flies away. Given the title, this figure's bearing suggests strength through adversity, perhaps a comment on the socio-political climate of Collaert's time. Curator: You know, it's interesting you mention the duck. My eye is drawn to the way her gown drapes—it's as if she's almost wading through something, her forward movement undeterred. It's more than just the marsh in the background, and I find it quite uplifting. Editor: It's also vital to consider that "Perseverantia" as a virtue has historically been gendered. Who gets to persevere, and at what cost? I can't help but see this image as a testament to the quiet, unyielding strength of so many women. Curator: That's a great point—the image feels both timely and timeless. Editor: Precisely. It invites us to question who we see as persevering and whose stories go unnoticed.