Uittrekken van de burgers te Amsterdam, 1672 1779 - 1781

Curator: What catches my eye is this wonderful sepia-toned sketch titled, "Departure of the Amsterdam Citizens, 1672," attributed to Simon Fokke. It's an etching, dating from around 1779-1781. Editor: It feels restless, doesn’t it? Almost dreamlike with that wispy tree and those tiny figures all bunched together, giving the sense of nervous energy about to burst. It's a beautiful depiction of... something! Curator: Indeed. Fokke captures a pivotal moment during the Franco-Dutch War, when Amsterdam prepared for a possible French invasion. It depicts the citizens mobilizing, leaving the city, which marked a significant crisis of governance and collective identity. The imagery subtly echoes broader questions about power, safety, and civic duty. Editor: The perspective is intriguing, like a stage set for a play about to unfold. I’m drawn to how small the people seem against the looming fortifications in the distance. Are we meant to feel their vulnerability? Or their bravery? Both, maybe? It speaks to our human drama, a timeless exploration of defense against external threats and inner courage. Curator: Precisely! Fokke consciously evokes the pictorial traditions of the Dutch Golden Age to add layers of historical meaning. By employing those stylistic conventions he invited viewers of his time to connect their anxieties about nationhood and safety with past epochs. Editor: What resonates with me, though, is that underlying human element—the raw anxiety, the almost cartoonish quality of the faces, frozen in this anticipation. Artistically, it is such an early draft in emotional truth. And it makes you think: what does leaving home even *mean*? Curator: Right, this seemingly simple image opens up so many fascinating discussions about national identity, defense, and what it feels like to live through history. Editor: Yeah, like… did they *ever* come back? Food for thought.