Prins Eugenius c. 1843 - 1920

Editor: This engraving, titled "Prins Eugenius," dating from around 1843 to 1920, by Anton Muttenthaler, presents a series of vignettes. The detail is incredible, but it's also very dense. I am curious what story do you believe the artist is attempting to tell? Curator: It's compelling how Muttenthaler uses printmaking, often associated with mass reproduction, to depict episodes in the life of a prominent historical figure. What sociopolitical purpose does such narrative art serve? Is it mythmaking, memorializing? And for whom? Editor: I see it a bit like a comic strip, retelling the life of this Prince Eugenius. Do you think this piece idealizes him, given the historical context? Curator: Definitely, especially if we consider the proliferation of nationalist sentiments during that period. Such depictions weren't merely historical records but active participants in shaping public perception and national identity. Editor: It’s interesting how the Baroque style seems to lend itself to this kind of hero-making. Do you think other art movements might be suitable for historical revision? Curator: Certainly. Consider the stark contrast between such romanticized depictions and, say, the unvarnished realism championed by the later Social Realists. Art always serves power of some sort. How does form work as an affirmation? How can it act as a subversion? Editor: So it is, propaganda? Curator: Propaganda isn't necessarily a dirty word, but we should ask ourselves who is benefitting from this picture? What is Muttenthaler's relationship to Eugenius, to power? Who is missing from this account, or who is perhaps unfavourably presented here? Editor: This piece gave me a lot to consider. The historical context definitely changes how I read the imagery. Curator: Absolutely. It prompts us to constantly question the narratives we inherit and to consider the power dynamics at play.