Arnhem vanaf de Rijn gezien 1812 - 1887

Editor: Here we have "Arnhem vanaf de Rijn gezien," or "Arnhem Seen from the Rhine," a print from somewhere between 1812 and 1887 by Frederik Lodewijk Huygens. It's incredibly detailed, almost photographic. What catches your eye in this cityscape? Curator: It's interesting you say photographic because even with all the detail, it has a definite painterly, romantic feel, doesn't it? The light feels…curated, wouldn’t you agree? What’s particularly fascinating to me is how the artist balances this idealised vision of leisure - look at the figures relaxing by the riverbank – with the burgeoning industry suggested by the steamboats. What does that contrast say to you? Editor: That’s a great point, I hadn’t considered that tension. So it’s this push and pull, between this romanticized past and a glimpse into a very different, industrial future. Do you think that commentary on societal change was intentional? Curator: I think intention is always a slippery eel to grab ahold of when looking back. But clearly, these newfangled contraptions had entered the artist's world and therefore his vision. And yes, absolutely a deliberate snapshot in time that speaks to how people were processing change. Like pressing pause on the river to let it sink in. You know? Editor: Absolutely. It makes you wonder how they truly felt about it, happy about progress, or perhaps a little anxious. Thanks so much for sharing! Curator: My pleasure! Always fun to paddle in the waters of art history together, even if the current is always changing!