Krantenknipsel betreffende Nicaise De Keyser Possibly 1850 - 1858

This is a newspaper clipping regarding Nicaise De Keyser, displayed at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, dated January 8, 1850. The clipping announces an exhibition of a painting depicting Willem II. What’s striking is how this small announcement reveals the intertwined nature of art, the state, and social welfare in 19th-century Netherlands. The painting commemorates a monarch, reinforcing his image and legacy, while the exhibition itself is framed as a charitable act. The entrance fee of 25 cents per person was "ten behoeve der Armen" - for the benefit of the poor. The Rijksakademie, as an institution, played a crucial role in shaping artistic production and taste. By hosting this exhibition, it not only promoted a particular artistic style but also reinforced the values of the monarchy and social responsibility. To understand this artwork better, we can explore archival records, newspaper accounts, and institutional histories. In doing so, we reveal the complex relationships between art, power, and society.