Vertoning van het Ontluiken van de Aarde, 1648 1649

Curator: Here in Gallery 12, we see "Vertoning van het Ontluiken van de Aarde," an engraving dating to 1649 by Salomon Savery. It's currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It’s striking how this piece uses a combination of both earthy tones and brilliant golds and whites to evoke a sense of both groundedness and ethereal aspiration, it gives me baroque meets psychedelic poster vibes, like a history painting re-imagined. Curator: The piece certainly blends distinct artistic influences. We're seeing Savery’s allegorical depiction of the dawning of a new era for the Netherlands, likely commenting on a nascent Dutch Republic finding its identity. You have celestial beings sharing the scene with allegorical figures representing virtues and earthly concerns. Note how the print’s narrative promotes notions of peace and justice. Editor: Peace, huh? But who gets to define 'peace' and 'justice'? I can’t help but question how such allegories were used to normalize existing power structures during the Dutch Golden Age, papering over issues of social inequality. The cannon featured prominently in the scene makes me reflect on the brutal colonial realities underlying the wealth celebrated in that period. I wonder, were the subjects of colonization even considered? Curator: You raise an important point about perspective. Within its historical context, the engraving certainly functioned as a form of nationalistic propaganda, reinforcing specific ideologies. By showcasing concepts such as earthly balance, it was surely commenting on emerging markets and colonial aspirations as the Netherlands saw a cultural, economic, and political boom in the middle of the seventeenth century. Editor: Exactly, there’s a sense of curated progress here, like this piece attempts to script and control narratives of power while excluding critical discourse. So much complexity hiding within the artwork's apparently straightforward imagery of virtues, peace, and emerging riches. Curator: And what appears to be the obvious can really invite some important discussions. Thank you for unpacking layers of power and hidden nuance with me! Editor: Likewise. Thinking about Savery's "Vertoning van het Ontluiken van de Aarde", I realize that understanding visual art is as much about what it explicitly shows as it is about what it implicitly hides.