Dimensions: height 420 mm, width 310 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
Curator: This engaging lithograph print, created by Dirk Noothoven van Goor between 1850 and 1881, offers a glimpse into perceptions of Scandinavia, specifically Sweden and Norway. It's titled "Zweden en Noorwegen. 4,500,000 inwoners," which translates to "Sweden and Norway. 4,500,000 inhabitants". What’s your initial impression? Editor: Immediately, it strikes me as quite a busy composition. The stark contrast in tones created by the engraving, juxtaposed with the different panels – map, cityscapes and figure paintings– all on one surface is… unique, visually fragmenting yet strangely unified by that monochromatic palette. Curator: It’s true, there's a lot happening here! It was part of a children’s educational magazine, which explains the format. See how it incorporates geographical and demographic information with what we might now consider lifestyle vignettes. It reveals how information was packaged and disseminated during the period, and the implicit cultural values embedded in these representations. Editor: I see what you mean. The artist balances utility and artistic aspiration. Observe how the topographical clarity of the map contrasts with the pictorial views of cityscapes of Stockholm and Bergen that have picturesque and, indeed, sentimental appeal. Curator: Exactly! Note also the scene titled, 'Het Exorcisen op Sneeuwschoenen’. Editor: Ah, ‘exercising on snowshoes’ showing human interaction with the wintry environment and offering commentary about national life. In its linear arrangement it reminds me of the friezes adorning Neoclassical monuments celebrating civic virtue and sacrifice. Curator: I find it intriguing how this seemingly simple educational tool served to shape the young audience’s understanding of these northern nations, highlighting both their landscape and societal customs within a colonial framework. Editor: And I admire van Goor's deft use of line to delineate space and form; note how in Bergen, he manages to capture a vast sense of scale. Ultimately, the piece holds so much interest as a set of pictorial devices united on a flat picture plane. Curator: I agree; it's more than just an artifact, isn't it? It speaks volumes about a specific time, about pedagogy, nationhood, and how those intertwined with graphic modes of communications. Editor: Indeed, there's plenty to observe in such a little visual synopsis.
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