Illustratie voor de Decamerone van Boccaccio 1697

Curator: Ah, Romeyn de Hooghe's "Illustration for Boccaccio's Decameron," circa 1697, at the Rijksmuseum. What do you make of it? Editor: It's incredibly detailed, an engraving teeming with characters. It seems almost theatrical, like a scene from a play. All those tiny lines, what do you focus on first? Curator: I always look for the story simmering beneath the surface. Boccaccio was a master of narratives—love, fortune, and wit, sometimes bawdy! De Hooghe captures that playful energy, wouldn't you say? See how he uses the architecture, the columns, almost as stage props. He places figures so they pop out, even! Like characters entering the stage. Editor: It does feel like a stage. Is that why one figure holds a sword, is it performative? Curator: Perhaps. It could symbolize power, or even the volatile passions Boccaccio explored in the Decameron. Or… maybe it's just a cool prop! De Hooghe wasn't afraid to add a touch of whimsy. Are you familiar with emblem books? Editor: Not really. Curator: In his era people looked at images like this expecting more meaning, so there could be layers of hidden messages to unravel, almost like a riddle, perhaps? Editor: That’s intriguing. I didn't think an engraving could hold so much depth. Curator: It's easy to get lost in the details, but try to sense the human drama – the laughter, the betrayals – that's the heart of Boccaccio and De Hooghe's enduring appeal. So what has struck you most of all then? Editor: The level of narrative. How the picture teems with possibility. Thanks.