Schouw met kandelaars 1784 - 1785

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this fascinating engraving, "Schouw met kandelaars," or "Mantelpiece with candelabra," dating back to 1784-1785. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The artist associated with this piece is de Saint-Morien. Editor: Immediately striking is its sense of poised stillness. The symmetrical design and muted tones create a scene of profound calm, almost like a stage set waiting for a drama to unfold. Curator: Indeed. The drawing exemplifies Neoclassical design principles. Note the meticulous detailing of the architectural elements: the clean lines, the balanced proportions, and the delicate ornamentation reminiscent of classical motifs. The repetition, for instance the perfectly balanced placement of candlesticks on either side of the fireplace. Editor: This symmetry also speaks volumes about the power dynamics of the era. The wealthy class, concerned with presenting a composed face to a nation wrestling with ideas of revolution and inequality. The hearth becomes less a functional object and more a symbol of controlled domesticity, a bulwark against chaos. Note, too, how light and shadow is manipulated in this period to make people look "better". Curator: Interesting point. Technically, the print showcases impressive control of line and shading. The artist coaxes a range of tones from the engraving technique, creating a depth of texture, look at the texture and detail in the mantelpiece, that enriches the image despite the relative simplicity of the composition. Editor: It does provoke questions about access. Who could afford such a fireplace, and, perhaps more importantly, whose stories were deemed worthy of being represented within such spaces? Whose stories are ignored in pursuit of order? I'm left to imagine the labor and the politics interwoven into such "refinement". Curator: Those are important questions. On purely formal terms, it is intriguing how an everyday item such as a mantelpiece can, when rendered in this style, exemplify aesthetic perfection. This rendering almost deifies design. Editor: I agree. That speaks to the aspiration towards enduring social structures. So much is embedded, coded into these domestic representations! A quiet reflection that holds the tension of an era on the brink of enormous shifts.