Hendrik van Navarra tegenover Karel IX 1790

Curator: Here we have Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki’s 1790 engraving, "Hendrik van Navarra tegenover Karel IX", residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first impression is of tightly controlled chaos, the etching needle seems to have barely contained the energy of the moment. Curator: It depicts a very specific moment, one laden with religious and political significance. The scene captures Hendrik of Navarre, later King Henry IV, facing Charles IX amidst rising tensions between Catholics and Protestants in 16th-century France. See how the artist emphasizes gesture and expression. Editor: And note the historical context: Charles IX was king during the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, which dramatically shaped European history. This engraving reframes a Protestant leader confronting royal authority during an era of persecution. Curator: Chodowiecki uses a baroque style to capture the high drama of this confrontation. Think of the ways these symbols can still communicate with us. The artist understood how an image could trigger deep-seated memories and ideological positions. Editor: The tension in that composition mirrors the broader struggles over religious identity that echo even in our modern era. The controlled setting within the royal court contrasts starkly with the unruliness of historical events that would soon unfold. Curator: Certainly. But even more fundamental is how Chodowiecki portrays leaders in conflict and the symbolic resonance it takes over time. The original historical conflict now exists only in our imagination thanks to this print and others of the era. Editor: Absolutely, and it shows how even what seem to be remote historical events are, in reality, critical conversations we're still having about power, faith, and justice. Curator: Yes, the images we choose to memorialize dictate so much. Thanks for teasing that out with me. Editor: Thank you. It’s a potent reminder that art gives a voice to even muted moments of conflict.