Vrouw omringd door exotische dieren 1718

Editor: Here we have "Woman Surrounded by Exotic Animals," an engraving made in 1718 by Jan Wandelaar, held here at the Rijksmuseum. It feels like organized chaos – there's just so much going on. How do you even begin to interpret a piece like this? Curator: Look at the central figure. The woman holds what appears to be a looking glass or perhaps even a framed image. What do you suppose that implies? Editor: I guess that she's contemplating her reflection? Or looking at the exotic animals, almost presenting them to us. It feels very posed. Curator: Precisely! And note the book acting as a stage: “Theatrum Universale Omnium Animalium” – "Universal Theatre of All Animals." Consider this work within the context of the Baroque period, during which the theater metaphor dominated art. Wandelaar is asking us, I believe, to consider how these exotic creatures, so far removed from our everyday reality, are perceived. Editor: So the animals are presented almost like actors in a play. Does this somehow comment on how we understand, or even exploit the natural world? Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps, that these exotic beasts allow one to see humankind itself more clearly. Observe how different people are represented around her. She holds a mirror up to us by displaying the full scope of nature – humanity included. It also references increased global exchange and scientific studies which fed into an explosion of visual encyclopedias and Cabinets of Curiosities in this time period. Editor: Wow, I definitely missed that the first time around! It's a reminder that what we see isn't always the whole picture. Curator: Indeed, understanding the symbolism helps unlock deeper layers of meaning, revealing cultural anxieties, memory and longings, within the image itself.