Vondelviering op het Muiderslot, 1867 Possibly 1867

Charles Rochussen made this watercolor, "Vondel Celebration at Muiderslot," in 1867. It depicts an event commemorating the 17th-century poet Joost van den Vondel. Here, Rochussen stages a scene of cultural memory, reviving a past golden age in the present. Consider the Muiderslot castle itself, a national monument, as the backdrop for this theatrical tribute. The figures are dressed in period costumes, evoking a specific historical moment. The audience, composed of contemporary gentlemen, observes this tableau. Rochussen uses visual codes to create a sense of historical authenticity and cultural continuity. The image also presents questions about the role of history and national identity in the 19th century. Was it purely a nostalgic exercise? Or did these historical re-enactments serve a larger purpose in shaping Dutch cultural identity and collective memory? Art history helps us to contextualize these images, using resources such as historical archives and literary sources. We can better understand how the past was understood and deployed in the present.