Vliegende steeg 1887 - 1931

Editor: This is "Vliegende steeg," or "Flying Alley," an etching by Frans Everbag created sometime between 1887 and 1931. There's something about the meticulous detail of the buildings against the subtle washes of the water that I find captivating. What kind of stories do you think this etching is trying to tell us? Curator: It's tempting to romanticize these kinds of Dutch cityscapes. The 'Flying Alley' depicted wasn't simply a quaint canal-side scene, but rather a working waterfront, likely filled with intense labor, social tensions, and complex trade relationships. It’s important to consider whose stories are typically left out of these visual narratives. Who lived in those houses, and how did their lives connect to this alley? Editor: So you're suggesting the beauty might be obscuring the social realities of the time? Curator: Precisely. The charm we perceive now can mask the socioeconomic disparities that were present. How does the artist's choice of etching as a medium contribute to our understanding? Etchings could be mass-produced, and are more affordable to acquire, which means that the piece is aimed to wider public audience. Do you think, based on its composition, that it might have been conceived as propaganda, trying to promote specific messages or values to a growing urban population? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn’t considered the impact of the printmaking process itself, it clearly played a role in the work's function. Curator: Looking closely at how the buildings and the industrial elements are depicted with the same level of detail invites us to explore the intersection of domestic and public space, the effects of industrial progress on daily life in cities such as Amsterdam during that era. It prompts a reflection about the way that our society shape social structures. Editor: This has given me a totally new perspective, I didn't realize how much the social conditions could influence this image! Curator: Exactly. By questioning what seems aesthetically pleasing, we uncover the often-complex relationship between art, society, and power.