Figuren in een storm 1722 - 1784

Curator: My initial impression is one of stark drama, it’s quite vivid in its depiction of nature’s power. Editor: Indeed. Here we have Simon Fokke’s print, "Figuren in een storm," likely created sometime between 1722 and 1784. It’s currently held in the collection here at the Rijksmuseum. What draws you to it initially? Curator: Well, the turbulent energy captured is remarkable. The way the wind whips through the trees, the implied rain, and that distant architecture – it evokes a real sense of precariousness. I wonder about the engraving process itself. What kind of labor would have been involved to make such dramatic rendering? Editor: The density of the lines really creates that textural contrast. Look at how Fokke uses hatching and cross-hatching to give depth to the clouds and convey a tangible sense of atmosphere. And given that this would be made using manual processes, it raises questions about the market this print was produced for, given the rising merchant class in the 18th century. Curator: And it seems deeply entrenched in the visual culture of its time. Baroque sensibilities certainly pervade with this rather romantic engagement of landscape and figures and architecture! Do you think prints like these shaped people's understanding and experiences of storms in some way? Editor: Undoubtedly. Prints played a significant role in disseminating information and shaping public imagination in that era. An image like this can function as more than just an aesthetic object. What message do you suppose Fokke conveys about humankind within the larger framework of his environment? Curator: It does speak volumes. Notice those figures huddled together for shelter. It's the human drama placed at the bottom and center. And even a hint of animal companionship on display too. It subtly nods to the precariousness of life. I am wondering now more and more how artists and artisans during that time considered their relation to society as a whole. Editor: It really puts their struggles in perspective, doesn't it? Considering this work further illuminates the public role of art during this tempestuous era. Curator: Agreed. Focusing on the cultural imprint of Fokke's "Figuren in een storm" today has shifted my perception. Editor: And thinking about the hand labor that goes into an engraving, certainly allows me to appreciate how cultural values and resources are shaped by its making.