Fontein met zeepaarden before 1706

Editor: Here we have an engraving called "Fontein met zeepaarden," or "Fountain with seahorses," dating from before 1706, housed right here at the Rijksmuseum. It's rendered in that meticulous, old engraving style. I'm struck by its almost dreamlike quality, a cityscape softened by flowing water. What secrets do you think this fountain holds? Curator: Oh, secrets aplenty! For me, this isn’t just a fountain; it's a carefully constructed fantasy. Can you see how the engraver plays with depth, almost layering realities? There's the imposing architecture fading into the background, framing this Baroque explosion of water and mythological creatures. It reminds me of theatrical stage design. It makes me wonder, what narratives did they conjure when they looked at it? Editor: The "stage design" analogy makes perfect sense. The seahorses are spitting out water – were such fountains common? Curator: Common, perhaps for royalty! Seahorses often symbolized power over the seas. Water was precious but power, status, and wealth demanded impressive display. See how the water becomes almost as important as the architecture. The whole thing screams "opulence," wouldn't you say? It is as though reality has been transformed into a theatrical vision, designed to be more dazzling than truth. Editor: So, beyond the spectacle, do you think there's a message being conveyed? Curator: Messages abound. Baroque art often served as a form of propaganda. A fountain like this, in real life, not just engraving, would be flaunting wealth, power, and mastery over nature. I almost feel as if they were creating a different world that made life in the present somehow bearable. This work captures not just an image, but a yearning, wouldn't you agree? Editor: It's like the artist's perspective and vision shaped their reality. Curator: Exactly! I always find myself lost in thought about that relationship when faced with historical work: How do we create art as mirrors, or as portals to an impossible better place? Editor: I'll definitely carry those ideas with me! Thanks for this insightful journey.