Vrolijke drinker van Frans Hals 1915

Curator: Here we have, "Vrolijke drinker van Frans Hals" or "The Merry Drinker by Frans Hals," created around 1915. It's attributed to Bernardus Arnoldus van der Eerden and is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. As the details show, it's a drawing, or rather a print, made using colored pencil. Editor: Well, "merry" seems a tad…optimistic. The overall impact of this drawing for me is somber. The figure seems trapped, somehow flattened. It lacks a dynamic punch considering what the original piece stood for. Curator: Absolutely, and thinking about van der Eerden creating this print brings up the question of artistic reproduction. It becomes interesting to reflect on how widely available, at varying price points and material qualities, this portrait might have been in 1915, broadening art accessibility to people beyond the traditional elite. Editor: It also raises the specter of craft and skill. Was this mass-produced, or did van der Eerden personally craft each one? Thinking about the act of creating a duplicate has an undeniable impact on the final result. And that influences my reaction. Curator: Precisely. And considering the timeframe, right before World War I, that act of mechanically reproducing something so full of life could become very poignant. Art was often used as propaganda. What’s depicted can often reflect societal trends of the time. Editor: Mmm, you’re right; knowing that historical detail, the replication suggests a reaching back towards better times, before everything changed. Maybe the goal was a sense of cheerfulness being consumed and copied to bring life in people's household? Curator: Could be. But now I wonder about this piece, especially given your insights. What can we really gather about Dutch society from it? What’s your final thought? Editor: Simply that this is how sadness might drink a beer – reflecting, more than partying. It captures the stillness just before everything shatters.