Geschiedenissen van gezag 1895

Curator: This evocative print, ladies and gentlemen, is titled "Geschiedenissen van gezag", or "Histories of Authority," a woodcut crafted around 1895 by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel. What leaps out at you, Editor? Editor: I’m struck by its almost unsettling calm. The muted greyscale, the stark figures... it feels like a stage play where something very important is about to happen, or maybe already has. There’s a dense, quiet tension in the air. Curator: De Bazel had this incredible knack for distilling complex narratives into symbolic forms. The central figure, almost angelic, framed by those bird-like creatures - are they owls? Guardians? It has an otherworldly presence. I wonder, are we witnessing a moment of counsel or maybe an internal conflict played out? Editor: That central figure is intriguing, definitely not human, not entirely. Those bird figures definitely add a layer of darkness and mystery. But it's the smaller figures – a woman with a flute and the old bearded man whose hand are joined – that whisper a hidden history of a relationship, possibly. Do they represent distinct aspects of "authority?" The artist creates space where a viewer can bring themselves. It can resonate deeply because the lack of clear explanation demands it. Curator: A dance of archetypes perhaps? It could easily reflect on any human relationship, though. What does authority mean within partnership? And notice how stylized everything is, pushing it into that realm of myth, somewhere beyond everyday understanding... I can feel the symbolist roots growing deep here. Editor: Absolutely, symbolism drips from every corner of this piece. The figures lack detail, urging them toward abstraction. Line here isn't just line. De Bazel evokes an air of timelessness, using the traditional form to tell stories of enduring meaning, all at once immediate, personal, yet detached. That tension is electric. Curator: It does raise fascinating questions. And there we have it – a bite-sized taste of Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel, a work that invites contemplation about the very essence of authority and its reflections across our relationships. Editor: "Geschiedenissen van gezag"—it lingers with you, a quiet puzzle box of power and presence.