De Tempel op de Grote Markt te Haarlem ter gelegenheid van de beëdiging van het Regeringsreglement, 5 september 1787 Possibly 1787 - 1801

Editor: So, this is Jacobus Buys’ pen drawing, "De Tempel op de Grote Markt te Haarlem ter gelegenheid van de beëdiging van het Regeringsreglement, 5 september 1787," which likely dates between 1787 and 1801. It's bustling and detailed but somehow also feels airy. I’m particularly struck by the architectural drawing. What captures your eye about this piece? Curator: What a fascinating sketch! For me, it’s about capturing a moment on the cusp of change. The airiness you mentioned, isn't that just like fleeting political promises? Look closely at the temporary temple, almost like a stage set. Do you see how it dwarfs the figures? It speaks volumes about the performative nature of power and the fleeting optimism after such a pivotal oath. There's a poignant tension between the imposing architecture of the Grote Markt and the somewhat fragile promise of "Regeringsreglement." Does the crowd really look optimistic, or are they weary? Editor: I hadn't really considered the performative aspect. I was focused on the surface representation of civic pride, I suppose. Curator: It’s easy to get swept away by the grand scale of it all. But art, even documentary-seeming sketches like this, often hides layers. Notice the rather ordinary-looking crowd, almost swallowed up in the scene, beneath this beacon of order. Think of what the oath actually means to them, will it lead to liberty, and how is it being presented to them? It becomes a dialogue between expectation and potential disillusionment. Does that make you see the drawing differently? Editor: Absolutely. I see it now as less about celebration and more about the *idea* of celebration, maybe even a touch of skepticism woven in. Curator: Precisely. Buys wasn't just documenting an event; he was hinting at the complex relationship between those governing and those being governed. Now that's the power of a sketch.