Montelbaanstoren 1896 - 1943

Editor: This is "Montelbaanstoren", an etching by Jan Willem Lindeman, made sometime between 1896 and 1943. I’m really drawn to the quiet, almost reverential way the artist captured this tower. It feels like a monument to another time. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: I'm intrigued by how Lindeman positions this historic tower, not simply as a relic of the past, but within a living, breathing urban environment. Note how the buildings clustered around the tower hint at Amsterdam’s evolving role as a centre for trade and innovation in that era. Consider how this imagery shaped Dutch national identity, projecting a sense of continuity. What might viewers at the time have thought about it? Editor: I guess they would have seen the tower both as something old and familiar and as part of this burgeoning cityscape, a reminder of their history but also of progress. Curator: Exactly! This image also participates in a dialogue about how Dutch identity was constructed and circulated, reinforcing particular values. The choice of etching as a medium makes this widely reproducible. Do you see how that impacts its role in creating and distributing this cultural meaning? Editor: That makes sense. Because it's a print, more people could access and share the image, shaping a wider understanding and appreciation for this national monument. Almost like visual propaganda, in a way? Curator: Propaganda is a strong word, but yes. Public art serves the interests of its cultural environment, just as monuments are planned to do the same. Lindeman’s "Montelbaanstoren" thus operates within complex institutional and socio-political frameworks. Editor: I see the etching now as more than just a picture, it’s an active player in its cultural landscape. Thanks for highlighting that! Curator: And thank you for drawing me into Lindeman’s dialogue with his viewers, those then, and us now.