Bartholomeüsnacht 1773

Curator: Immediately, I sense turmoil. Look at the chaotic energy emanating from this print! Editor: Yes, and that sensation of upheaval is perfectly appropriate. What we're seeing here is Jan Caspar Philips's 1773 engraving, "Bartholomeüsnacht," which the Rijksmuseum holds in its collection. As the title suggests, the artwork portrays the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Curator: A title can provide a signpost, but images are still read through our current world view. For example, angels look down upon this chaotic street scene, yet are they symbols of compassion or cold witnesses to an apocalyptic spectacle? The angel’s meaning would be found through continuous cultural reappraisal. Editor: Absolutely. What's so striking is Philips's depiction of history as a brutal, tangible force. You see bodies strewn across the ground as frenzied figures engage in violence. What I see in the use of light and shadow, particularly on the architecture, lends it an air of almost theatrical drama. It makes you consider the stage upon which power plays out. Curator: Indeed. Look at the figures scrambling to hold upright that inscribed slab; notice the book upon which the dark figure sits; and how the city cathedral rises on the horizon behind all the action. These motifs lend meaning beyond just the historic reference; a commentary on faith, power, and perhaps retribution. The flag seems to signify conquest and religious order. Editor: But that also reinforces that the event depicted was about far more than faith. We must look at what spurred this event and how society created such fissures in the first place. By displaying such blatant chaos, this engraving invites viewers to ask those questions. Curator: I see this artwork now, reflecting how even the memory of certain historic moments creates new visual metaphors in contemporary iconography. Thank you for unveiling that layer! Editor: Likewise! Your insights have broadened my appreciation of the art piece by linking both visual history and symbols to socio-cultural concepts.