Willem Crul in gevecht met de Engelsen, 1781 1781 - 1795

Curator: This watercolor and ink drawing, created between 1781 and 1795 by Jacobus Buys, is titled "Willem Crul in gevecht met de Engelsen, 1781." It currently resides in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, it feels incredibly turbulent! Just look at those ships battling it out on a smoky sea. It’s as if the artist captured a fleeting moment of chaos and energy. Curator: Indeed. The drawing depicts Willem Crul in battle against the English. Examining this work, we can view it within the context of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, a conflict fueled by complex political and economic tensions related to trade routes and colonial power. Editor: Makes sense. The style seems…almost romantic. Is it right to assume that the ships feel like giants dancing dangerously close? Curator: Yes, Romanticism was on the rise at that time and found fertile ground during times of conflict. The landscape tradition is also at play here. This could even speak to a Dutch desire to reclaim power on the open water, specifically within their maritime identities. It brings questions around whose power is reflected and who is erased, who is visible and invisible. Editor: Totally. Even with this seemingly muted color palette, it has this epic feel. It’s history, but through, I don’t know… rose-colored ink? Or maybe battle-smoke colored ink? What do you make of that little boat in the lower corner? They have the best seats in the house, but are they escaping? Curator: Precisely! The inclusion of the small boat indeed highlights the unequal power dynamics inherent in warfare, a tiny vessel facing monstrous ships. That's a great perspective on power structures and inequalities. The artist subtly questions traditional glorifications of war, instead hinting at the human cost through its mere presence. Editor: Absolutely. Makes you wonder about the lived experiences beyond the grandeur. It reminds you about all the lives touched. Curator: A piece like this can prompt reflection on conflict and its representations throughout art history, revealing the narratives of those often overshadowed. Thank you, Jacobus Buys, for the reflection point. Editor: Agreed. Well, this was one for the books…or should I say, the waves?