Praalgraf voor admiraal Jacob baron van Wassenaer van Obdam, 1665 1730 - 1736

Curator: This is a print titled "Praalgraf voor admiraal Jacob baron van Wassenaer van Obdam," created anonymously between 1730 and 1736. It's an engraving depicting the mausoleum of Admiral Wassenaer van Obdam. Editor: Woah, imposing! All those sharp lines make it feel so precise, almost cold, you know? Like staring at a blueprint for eternal rest. Curator: Exactly, the medium contributes to the message. Engraving allowed for mass production, so images like these could circulate Widely, shaping public memory of figures like the Admiral and of naval exploits. Editor: That changes things...almost like creating a public hero on repeat. Did this Admiral have an elaborate state funeral, too, or did they need the print to drum up extra hype? Curator: Historical accounts show Admiral Wassenaer died at sea in battle; thus, a formal body wasn’t recovered and en masse distributed engravings gave accessibility in honor to the people of that time. This engraving, though Baroque, uses clean lines, in alignment with popular style. Editor: I'm thinking how very distant it all feels, like looking through the wrong end of a telescope at ambition, death, and remembrance all rolled into one. Almost like a stage set… Curator: It *is* staged to a degree. It has figuration and follows some concepts central to the baroque themes for historical paintings. There's the Admiral in statue form elevated among angelic symbols of history with an inscription that gives us clear directions on what the print wants to highlight. Editor: Like 'admire, remember, emulate’ stamped on it in invisible ink, right? I like that there’s a crowd scene depicted here. It drives home the point that we're looking at a site meant for performance. It makes me think, where is the balance struck in historical depiction between the individual and their societal significance? Curator: Exactly. It is a powerful meditation on the material representation of power and legacy. Editor: Gives you chills, thinking about the Admiral who is now, maybe just, an idea immortalized on paper for us to overthink centuries later!