Slag bij Castricum, 1799 1800 - 1802

Editor: This is "Slag bij Castricum, 1799," or "Battle of Castricum, 1799," an engraving made between 1800 and 1802 by Cornelis Brouwer, here at the Rijksmuseum. It's quite dynamic, a chaotic swirl of bodies and smoke. What stands out to you in terms of the physical production of this print? Curator: Consider the socio-economic factors involved. Brouwer’s choice of printmaking—specifically engraving—is significant. How does the act of reproduction impact our understanding of warfare depicted here, as a distributed commodity rather than a singular heroic event? Editor: That’s fascinating. So, you're saying the choice of printmaking transforms the battle into something more broadly accessible? Curator: Precisely. Engravings were a means of disseminating information and shaping public opinion. Who was the intended consumer of these prints? What kind of access to artistic resources did the artist have? Think about how the material—the copperplate, the ink, the paper—facilitated or constrained the representation of the battle. Was this created for the wealthy or as propaganda? Editor: So it's less about the battle itself and more about its consumption? Curator: It's both! The battle is the subject, but the *means* by which it reaches an audience is the critical component of its historical legacy. How does the medium contribute to shaping a national narrative? Also note the detailed, almost technical depiction of weaponry; What level of experience in rendering arms manufacture, usage and context would the artist have? Editor: That's given me a completely different way of viewing the print. I hadn’t considered it in terms of production and consumption before, but seeing it as a distributed commodity that also informed public opinion, it adds so much complexity! Curator: Materiality matters!