Oproer in Arnhem, 2 augustus 1784 Possibly 1784 - 1801

Editor: This is Jacobus Buys' "Oproer in Arnhem, 2 augustus 1784," or "Riot in Arnhem, August 2, 1784" made with pen, ink, and drawing; it's held in the Rijksmuseum. The monochromatic wash gives it an urgent, almost documentary feel. What can you tell me about the materials used in its creation? Curator: Look closely at how Buys deployed readily available materials. Ink, pen, and paper, cheaply acquired, served the purpose of documenting this revolt. It challenges the grand narratives often associated with oil paintings commissioned by the elite, democratizing artmaking. Who gains access and at what price, and to what audience is key to its significance. Editor: I see, so the choice of materials is directly linked to accessibility and documenting a moment in history. What can you tell me about the societal context of it all? Curator: We're talking late 18th century, a time of social and political ferment. By utilizing cheap and convenient materials to record unrest, Buys positions this drawing not as a high art object but as a tool. It reveals not just the event, but who could afford to immortalize history and who was written out, literally and figuratively. The very act of sketching this scene with those accessible tools shifts the power dynamic. Do you notice anything in the way it challenges other artworks in its own time? Editor: It does seem at odds with the idealized, heroic depictions we often see in history paintings from that period. Buys seems more interested in conveying the gritty reality of the riot, the accessible format perhaps highlighting a different, more radical narrative. Curator: Precisely. It makes one consider: who profits, whose voice carries, and which versions of reality get legitimized and memorialized, depending on material choice? Editor: I had never really considered materials themselves in shaping and democratization. Thank you. Curator: It was my pleasure. Analyzing any artwork with the economic aspect in mind may truly revolutionize your own interpretation.