Trommelslager en trompettist te paard verkleed als wildemannen 1670

Editor: So this etching by François Chauveau, made around 1670, is called "Trommelslager en trompettist te paard verkleed als wildemannen"—"Drummer and Trumpeter on Horseback Dressed as Wild Men." It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me is the fantastic costuming; the figures really do seem otherworldly. What's your take? Curator: The “wild man” motif is very interesting here. In European iconography, it often appears as a symbol of untamed nature, perhaps even a relic of pagan beliefs. The fact that these wild men are musicians suggests a merging of that primal energy with courtly spectacle. Do you notice how the costumes, though seemingly chaotic, are meticulously detailed? Editor: Yes, there’s a real tension between wildness and control. All the ornamentation looks quite deliberate, despite being so outlandish. Do the specific instruments they play hold any significance? Curator: Absolutely. The trumpet has long been associated with fanfare and proclamation. The drum could symbolize rhythm, movement, or even war. This coupling could suggest a ritualistic or ceremonial performance. How do you think the artist plays into the visual message through the composition and technique, like line work? Editor: The sharp lines of the etching, and how they define the muscularity of the horses and the texture of the costumes, contribute to that push-pull effect, the ordered detail representing command, with the feral aesthetic as freedom of expression. It almost makes me wonder if there is also a play on power relations. Curator: A perceptive insight! Think of these images as echoes of a performance. We witness how memory can shape and reshape these wild figures through art. What did you find most compelling in our short discussion? Editor: Definitely the enduring presence and adaptability of symbols—like the wild man—and their connection to social roles within culture, which I had never really appreciated! Thanks for your input.