Allegorisch grafmonument voor Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol, 1784 1784

Curator: Here we have an engraving titled "Allegorisch grafmonument voor Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol, 1784," created in 1784. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What's your immediate take? Editor: My first thought is that it's surprisingly playful for a memorial. There's a jaunty energy, almost theatrical, despite the somber subject. A sort of melancholic clown show. Curator: Yes, note how it blends baroque sensibilities with themes of allegory. This piece layers symbols – observe the man with the shovel and the cherubic figure, juxtaposed beside the neoclassical architecture of the tomb. It really evokes the emotional complexities surrounding mortality, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely! It's the man leaning on the monument for me, though; He gives it all a rather tragic air of finality and the futility of action. Then you see the child, also with tools, and the balance of labour and rest begins to materialize as a rather more humanistic vision. What did van der Capellen stand for? Curator: Van der Capellen was a Dutch statesman and patriot, deeply involved in advocating for Enlightenment ideals. He stood for freedom and civic virtue; the inscription ‘Pro Patria’ highlights this. The spade held by both characters indicates work ethic and how he played an important role as founder. Editor: It's as though the engraver is attempting to build up an entire political legacy in one swift image. The use of scale is really fascinating, and this feels like a memorial to political ambition, with van der Capellan cast as both benefactor and visionary. Curator: It shows a blend of grief, admiration, and perhaps, a call to action. Notice also the deliberate combination of landscape with elements characteristic of the historical painting. A true monument, it commemorates not only his death but also the ideas he championed. Editor: Ultimately, this engraving encapsulates so many complex emotions – grief, admiration, aspiration – rendered in this miniature scale. Curator: It certainly gives us plenty to reflect on!