Nieuwjaarswens van Daniël Giltay Veth en L.M. Giltay Veth-Pliester 1937

Curator: Allow me to draw your attention to this print, created via engraving techniques, entitled “Nieuwjaarswens van Daniël Giltay Veth en L.M. Giltay Veth-Pliester,” made in 1937. Editor: Well, immediately, I see a sort of topsy-turvy coach, looking almost like it's about to topple over...but the energy is undeniably joyous! There's a feeling of whimsical celebration despite the somewhat severe monochrome palette. Curator: Indeed. Notice the banners proclaiming the names of Daniël Giltay Veth and L.M. Giltay Veth-Pliester. Given that it's a new year's greeting, we can deduce this was likely commissioned by or for them, acting as a personal heraldic announcement. Editor: A heraldic announcement that feels like a scene from a slightly dark fairy tale! A carriage, a stern figure with what looks like a welcoming funnel...the people spilling out seem eager to get to whatever bounty is being offered in 1938. Curator: Observe the stylized sunburst, a symbol often connected to concepts of enlightenment and renewal. And that figure acting as a welcoming point, resembling some form of municipal toll figure or officer. Considering this piece and its moment in history, this image probably has an extra special hope for a prosperous year. Editor: Definitely! And looking closer at the passengers, I see such hope but also weariness in their faces—a fascinating blend of eagerness and caution... which is, let's face it, how everyone feels stepping into a new year. And the sun's rays…they do look like golden coins. It adds a greedy, cheerful touch, like a coin fountain. Curator: Symbolism often works on many layers. Here, that intersection—the joy of a potential new revenue, as the text "Blijde Inkomste in 1938" says. This print serves both as a historical record of a personal connection to a pivotal year. Editor: It's such an intriguing snapshot! Knowing this was created right before everything changed adds an edge of pathos, too. Well, if art reflects life, the future arriving like a highway man is a sentiment that remains timeless. Thanks for bringing the context into this picture! Curator: Absolutely! Thinking about such art enriches how it mirrors the complex human spirit that has kept and keeps holding up despite everything.