Plattegrond en stadsgezicht van Arnhem 1657 - 1774

Editor: Here we have "Plattegrond en stadsgezicht van Arnhem," a cityscape map dating from 1657 to 1774, at the Rijksmuseum. It’s a print, probably an etching, credited to an anonymous artist. I find the bird’s-eye view quite intriguing – almost dreamlike. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Oh, it’s absolutely a window into another time, isn’t it? Maps were like dreams of control back then, projecting order onto the chaos of the world. The delicate lines of the etching remind me of a spider's web, each thread connecting one little house to another. Do you notice how the cityscape is both a portrait and a plan? Editor: A portrait and a plan - interesting. I see what you mean. The detail is astonishing. It feels like more than just directions; there’s a real sense of community, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Exactly! It's about power, perspective, and people all tangled together. Consider that baroque flourish, all about grandeur and drama, yet here it is, miniaturized. I almost imagine the artist carefully mapping their own desires onto Arnhem’s streets and structures, right? It’s like they are whispering, ‘I am here, I see this.’ Do you think they knew that centuries later, we'd still be puzzling over their vision? Editor: Probably not, but isn't that wonderful? Thinking about someone from so long ago trying to make their mark, and succeeding, in a way. Curator: Precisely! And, the map becomes this invitation across time… like the city itself extending a hand, and a reminder of both how much and how little has changed in our urge to capture and control our world. A curious reflection.