Johan van Oldenbarnevelt doet de eed als Landsadvocaat, 1586 1780 - 1795

Editor: Here we have Reinier Vinkeles' engraving, "Johan van Oldenbarnevelt doet de eed als Landsadvocaat, 1586," created sometime between 1780 and 1795. The print captures a moment of oath-taking in what appears to be a courtroom, but it also seems to portray a particular social dynamic. What complexities do you observe within this work? Curator: This piece is fascinating when considering the context in which it was created, well after the event it depicts. Vinkeles, working during a period of nascent Dutch patriotism, chose to represent a pivotal figure in Dutch history. But the ‘oath’ is performative, isn't it? A negotiation of power. Who is watching, who is benefiting, and how is this moment being framed for a late 18th-century audience grappling with their own political identities? How might this scene resonate differently depending on one’s class or political leanings at the time? Editor: I hadn't considered the 18th-century context so explicitly. So, it's less about historical accuracy and more about constructing a national narrative? Curator: Exactly! Think about the very act of creating a print, making this image accessible. Who has access, and what does it tell about civic virtue, duty, and leadership at a time of significant upheaval in Europe? The choice of engraving is itself important - accessible and reproducible, democratizing knowledge in some respects. Is this accessibility purely about knowledge or about ideological alignment too? Editor: It reframes the entire piece. I initially saw it as just a historical depiction, but now I see how it's actively shaping historical memory to promote certain values. Curator: Indeed. And it encourages us to reflect on the values it promotes and whose interests they ultimately serve. This reframing demands a critical engagement. Editor: This makes me consider history as not just something that happens, but as something that is actively created, remembered, and leveraged. Thank you!