Veldslag 1818 - 1876

Curator: This is “Veldslag,” a battle scene print created sometime between 1818 and 1876 by Carel Christiaan Antony Last, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial impression is one of controlled chaos. Despite being monochromatic, the etching conveys the drama and intensity of the battlefield. There’s a palpable sense of movement and desperation. Curator: The artist’s choice to render this historical tableau in print, using both etching and engraving techniques, is quite telling. Prints allowed for wider distribution and the cultivation of national sentiment. Consider its potential audience—would these prints serve to glorify war? Editor: Precisely. We must examine this artwork through a critical lens, beyond face value. It might seem like a straightforward representation of bravery, but it inevitably intersects with power dynamics, national pride, and perhaps even justifications for violence. Curator: You make a compelling point about its dissemination. This artwork presents a seemingly Romantic vision of war, appealing to emotion and offering a certain perspective. But how might viewers from marginalized communities or occupied nations interpret this "veldslag"? Editor: Their perspective would be drastically different. What about those whose lives and lands are destroyed in these battles? We need to challenge the heroic narrative that may be manufactured through art and propaganda, or explore the narratives that counter that narrative through resistance art. Curator: Absolutely. By acknowledging this multiplicity of viewpoints, we can encourage a more nuanced interpretation. The social and historical framework of the art’s production informs, but does not prescribe, its viewing. Editor: Yes, so we acknowledge the romanticized or glorified perspective of it all. That we question what isn’t show, and center the experiences of those who are most impacted by war. With these contexts in mind, this piece can spur dialogue that bridges then and now. Curator: Exactly. Reflecting on all of this brings me a fresh view and respect of what is being done and a consideration of how such historical accounts are framed in nationalistic discourse. Editor: Me too! These dialogues highlight the continuing significance of historical context when considering our global community through art.