Het nieuwe Joden-spel

Curator: Welcome, everyone. Here we have "Het nieuwe Joden-spel," or "The New Jew Game," a print created sometime between 1841 and 1864 by Jan Oortman. It’s held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Well, my immediate impression is how…contained it feels. Everything’s framed within frames—circles, squares. And a rather solemn figure at the very centre. There’s a numerical scheme going on, almost clocklike. Curator: Exactly. The artwork uses etching techniques to create a board game layout, a rather unfortunate example of 19th-century caricature reflecting discriminatory attitudes. Editor: So it's less about aesthetics and more about reinforcing existing societal prejudices. I see. The central image is of someone behind a table with numbered segments along the edges. Almost like the man has pieces to move? Curator: Precisely. The print details rules of a game, casting a Jewish man in a demeaning light related to wealth and fortune. The imagery itself is a manifestation of deeply ingrained biases. Note how the twelve numerals are situated within laurel wreaths and ribbons, reinforcing a sense of tradition, yet also simultaneously propagating hate through the very activity of entertainment. Editor: I think, without context, a viewer might overlook that aspect, perhaps interpret the visuals and framing devices with neutrality; after all the etching itself isn’t bad, in my view. But with historical framing, the print highlights the dangerous power dynamics embedded within seemingly innocent forms of recreation. Even the colour choice feels significant, the green is very drab in places which dulls its visual appeal. Curator: That tension between aesthetic choices and cultural impact is at the crux of analyzing such pieces. What may initially seem decorative serves a far more sinister social and political agenda. Editor: Definitely food for thought. It highlights how artistic techniques are employed not just to please the eye but also, to perpetuate the norms. I am glad to know the institution houses works that confront difficult subjects. Curator: Indeed. I'm thankful we have a platform to facilitate that crucial reflection.