Optocht door de rederijkerskamer De Roo Roosen uit Schiedam (eerste deel), 1607 1607

Curator: Here we have a Northern Renaissance print, an engraving from 1607, titled "Optocht door de rederijkerskamer De Roo Roosen uit Schiedam (eerste deel), 1607." It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by its depiction of civic pride, although a bit stiffly portrayed. The limited use of line for the engraving gives a remarkable, almost stark quality to the costuming. Curator: It's important to remember the function of "rederijkerskamers", the Rhetoric Chambers, in 17th-century civic life in the Netherlands. They were literary and dramatic societies, and this engraving documents one of their processions. Look at the material details: their clothing, the banners, even the drum being carried at the front. This print acts as an early form of photojournalism, archiving their visual culture and pageantry for posterity. Editor: Absolutely. And the flag! It dominates the composition, drawn so the eye keeps circling back to it. I can almost feel the wind catching it! The standard bearer’s proud stance, plus those rather theatrical, puffy sleeves contribute to this reading. It's such an explicit symbol of this group's identity. It evokes a feeling of unity. Curator: I'm interested in how a work like this also speaks to hierarchies of labor. Consider the artist responsible for engraving, compared to the people marching here and also consider who consumed the artwork at the time of its making. The choices surrounding production of art is significant in that moment. The means of producing such a detailed rendering required careful artistry, while documenting these theatrical displays underscores the economic stability of the town. It tells a silent tale of that dynamic. Editor: A parade memorialized with potent iconography, where visual elements like banners, ceremonial attire, and emblems serve as tools for reinforcing collective values and recording their moment in time. It also tells a tale of cultural performance meant to display power. The very fact this was preserved gives its importance to us. Curator: Indeed, reflecting upon it I can better appreciate how a snapshot of one time functions in society over a vast timeframe. Editor: And by thinking of it this way, it is certainly less stiff and more engaging for the moment.