Bergweg bij Brussel 1648 - 1671

Curator: "Bergweg bij Brussel," or "Mountain Road Near Brussels," attributed to Jan de Bisschop, likely made between 1648 and 1671. It is composed using ink, watercolor, and etching techniques, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's quite subtle, almost monochromatic. A pathway snakes into the distance, beckoning, yet there’s a wistful quality, perhaps because of the diluted ink washes that create this tonal variation. Curator: The path undoubtedly serves as a visual metaphor. Roads and journeys were potent symbols in the Baroque era, often representing life's path, spiritual journeys, and the relationship between humanity and nature. Notice the slight rise on the horizon that the travelers are heading towards, as well as the two people on the top of the rocks facing away from the viewer as symbols of the relationship with oneself and with the world. Editor: Looking closer at the execution, the materials themselves contribute to this sense of transition. The ink, watercolor and etching mixture indicates the hand of the artist constantly refining their approach. This wasn't about a perfect print. Curator: Indeed, this suggests a more intimate relationship with the landscape, imbuing the depicted scene with emotion, almost akin to a memory. There is a feeling that, through its very medium and symbolization, the artist is creating an eternal vision of the everyday. The work transforms nature and reality through symbols into emotional, cultural, and spiritual truths. Editor: This is not only in the process of the artist, but even considering the context of its place in the museum, as an illustration or rendering rather than a ‘high art’ piece displayed for the public. We may need to consider the social framework surrounding how we engage with ‘art.’ The material condition and labour matters to our consumption and what stories can be found outside symbolism. Curator: You’ve broadened my understanding of how the Baroque’s symbolic weight is equally contingent upon the artist’s relationship to materiality. Editor: Likewise. Jan de Bisschop's method invites a fresh perspective into the material, reminding us that symbolism must not overshadow the materials' capacity to enrich context.