Paar dat elkaar omhelst 1683 - 1733

Curator: What strikes me first is the intimacy captured here, almost a stolen moment. Editor: I agree. And as a curator here at the Rijksmuseum, I can tell you this engraving, titled "Paar dat elkaar omhelst"—"Couple embracing"—is by Bernard Picart. It dates from somewhere between 1683 and 1733, so it falls squarely within the later Baroque era. The details in the garments are compelling, and clearly defined despite being created via the engraving method. Curator: You know, the engraving process itself interests me most here. Think about the labour invested. The choice to disseminate this potentially scandalous, but not shocking image… what kind of social commentary was enabled through the choices inherent to this relatively accessible format? This was reproducible! Editor: Exactly! The image had a public life beyond a wealthy patron's private collection. While erotic art wasn't exactly revolutionary, the mode of distribution reflects shifting social mores and broader consumption of suggestive themes, even for didactic purposes. Consider how the printing press was affecting image culture during this time. The baroque theatricality in the composition is certainly enhanced by the potential for dissemination. It creates a shared, but maybe slightly secretive experience for audiences. Curator: It's tempting to consider who bought this, and in what context would it be viewed? It certainly feeds into ideas about consumption in this era. Who owned it, how was it made available, and how would viewers interpret it in their homes or elsewhere? What types of patronage are at work that allowed it to be released and distributed? I am also really captivated by its material production and the various levels of labor embedded in its creation. Editor: Those are important questions. The image feels light, flirtatious even, but underneath there’s a complexity relating to art, access and even, dare I say, burgeoning commercialism. Curator: Well said! Editor: It’s definitely given me something new to think about concerning its historical impact and artistic construction.