Hertog Albrecht van Beieren ontvangt Koning Hendrik IV van Engeland met diens dochter Blanca te Dordrecht, 1403 1787 - 1795

Curator: Look at this intricate pen and ink sketch. It depicts a meeting between Duke Albert of Bavaria and King Henry IV of England, alongside his daughter Blanca, back in 1403. Jacobus Buys rendered this between 1787 and 1795. Editor: The piece definitely feels...official. Like a slightly faded snapshot of a Very Important Handshake. There’s something almost comical about those ruffs, though – they look like slightly deflated meringues. Curator: Buys was deeply invested in portraying significant moments from Dutch history, drawing upon chronicles and historical accounts to inform his compositions. It's important to remember the artwork has been assigned the Neo-classicism style because it attempts to harken back to earlier themes. Editor: You can almost hear the rustling of velvet and whispered protocols. It strikes me how everyone’s slightly awkwardly posed, as if they were told to "look natural" and, naturally, completely failed. Is that sea ships behind? The artist doesn't draw them very detailed at all, no? Curator: Precisely! This reception took place in Dordrecht. It's crucial to remember that Buys completed this drawing centuries after the actual event. His depiction isn’t necessarily a factual representation, but rather a visualization filtered through the lens of his time, reflecting Dutch national identity. Editor: You can say that again, it feels idealized. But still… There’s something endearingly clumsy about it all, you know? Like historical fan fiction brought to life in a very polite way. The ink gives a bit of "shaky hands" kind of quality. Curator: Indeed, the artist uses a classical composition, trying to convey stability in the depiction. But I see how some could consider this 'clumsy,' however Buys wasn’t just illustrating history; he was crafting a narrative that served contemporary social and political purposes. Editor: So, it’s history as propaganda? Well, history always is, in some sense. I like to think maybe these people in the scene did just want to find out what a great day it was and meet other kings and dukes. Curator: A fair thought, I guess, maybe we are both just idealizing and creating our own biased narrative from a black-and-white rendition. Editor: Well said! Now, I am off to imagine their funny facial expressions on their travels.