Zomer c. 1720 - 1799

Curator: This print, dating roughly from 1720 to 1799, is entitled "Zomer," and it resides here at the Rijksmuseum. The work is an engraving and is unsigned, attributed to an anonymous artist. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the dizzying abundance of its composition—it feels celebratory but almost overwhelming. The balance between open space and dense ornamentation seems deliberately pushed to the extreme. Curator: Observe how the composition employs an elaborate, asymmetrical frame. The frame itself acts as a stage, upon which the figures and landscape elements play out an allegorical representation of summer. Note the dynamism injected by its curvilinear shapes. Editor: Symbolically, the putti—or cherubic figures—typically signify innocence, love, and earthly joy. Here, the contrast of complex racial coding is apparent, with lighter figures enjoying fresh water and one figure shading darker skin. And how do we interpret the sun radiating above this entire constructed scene? Curator: Consider the organization within the decorative framework. There’s a visual dialogue between the idyllic landscape glimpsed through the architectural elements and the actively posed figures that animate the foreground, thus integrating internal versus external space. Editor: The work reflects complex traditions of European art history and their complicated entanglements with colonialist power structures. We're seeing not just summer as a season of leisure, but a constructed idea of abundance supported by specific racial dynamics. Curator: From a purely formal standpoint, consider the precision and delicacy of the engraving. The anonymous artist uses line weight and density to create depth and texture, skillfully mimicking the effects of light and shadow in this entirely monochrome composition. Editor: This print really illuminates the visual encoding and historical narrative layered into ostensibly decorative pieces from this period. It urges a reconsideration of what exactly is being celebrated. Curator: Indeed. "Zomer" rewards a prolonged study. The structural tension yields a sophisticated choreography of form and idea. Editor: Precisely, leaving us with a far richer understanding than a simple appreciation of summer idylls.