Vandalen 

Editor: So this is "Vandalen," an engraving by Cornelis Visscher, located here at the Rijksmuseum. The figure, presumably a Vandal, is really striking, powerful even... but also a bit theatrical. What's your take? How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, looking at "Vandalen," we're not simply observing a historical representation; we are witnessing a carefully constructed statement about power, identity, and the "other." Who were the Vandals? Often cast as barbaric invaders, but this portrayal offers a counter-narrative, imbuing them with a regal, almost idealized presence. Do you see how Visscher uses the conventions of portraiture to elevate the figure? Editor: I see it, especially the way he’s standing, so confidently posed and centrally located in the frame. But what’s with the title "Vandalen"? Doesn’t that imply… well, vandalism? It is curious that an artwork, with such high visual qualities and finesse, depicts an historical group whose name has come to mean wanton destruction? Curator: Exactly. The historical context here is vital. The 17th century was a time of intense nation-building and defining identities. Representations of groups like the Vandals served as both a historical record and a commentary on contemporary European power dynamics. Were they truly "vandals" or were they merely resisting Roman authority? Can we unpack those ideas? Editor: I never considered the possibility that this was about subtly questioning power structures! Curator: Think about it: who gets to write history? Whose narratives are privileged, and whose are erased or demonized? This piece invites us to question those power dynamics, both then and now. Editor: That’s fascinating! Now I am not sure whether it celebrates them or critizices our modern-day perception of the Vandals. Curator: Indeed! I guess this teaches us the power of art.