Tafereelen uit de regering van koning Lodewijk. - 1806-1810 1850 - 1881

Editor: We’re looking at "Tafereelen uit de regering van koning Lodewijk. - 1806-1810," a graphic art print, specifically an engraving, by Dirk Noothoven van Goor, created sometime between 1850 and 1881. It’s presented as a kind of illustrated news sheet. It’s got this old engraving style that I see referenced with narrative and historical art and something that looks very dutch. What do you see in this piece that captures your imagination? Curator: Oh, this reminds me of peering into a collective dream! Each little vignette, a portal into a specific moment in King Louis’s reign. It is presented almost as a series of historical sketches of events from a news periodical of that era. The cross-hatching creates depth but, at the same time, gives it that slightly antiquated, slightly nostalgic feel. Almost a fairy tale version of real life! It is quite interesting to have them placed like this and one has to consider why the artist wanted them placed specifically as they are and what the context may have been for the artist. Editor: You're right. There’s a playful feeling here, despite the historical subject matter. I see these distinct scenes and, what exactly is it about the etching that makes it seem "old-timey"? Curator: It’s that dedication to line, wouldn’t you say? The absence of colour pushes it into the realm of memory, and this stark, almost clinical rendering… well, it’s transporting. It makes me feel like I'm discovering these forgotten stories alongside the artist. Editor: So, from news to storytelling – almost mythmaking – the power of those lines is more than initially apparent. Curator: Precisely! Isn't it wonderful how a simple medium can contain so many layers?