Za tamboer slaat u trom en pyper d'fluyten, Ten beste van 't land en d'Oranje spruyten 1725 - 1780

Curator: Step right up, folks, and feast your eyes on "Za tamboer slaat u trom en pyper d'fluyten, Ten beste van 't land en d'Oranje spruyten," a mouthful of a title, I know! It’s an engraving by Johannes Kannewet, created sometime between 1725 and 1780. Editor: Quite a find. It reminds me of an emblem—sort of like a heraldic design or a political cartoon? There’s an interesting color scheme, limited as it may be, and these figures are really lively! What do you make of this particular work, its message, its place in history? Curator: Johannes, ah Johannes, our bookshop-owning engraver, really threw a party on paper, didn’t he? It’s vibrant with detail; the central tree of Orange alludes to the House of Orange, which was hugely symbolic and tied to Dutch identity. Given its history, it almost makes you wonder what daily life felt like back then, during a tumultuous and transformative time! What emotions do the drummer and flute player evoke within you? Editor: The music aspect is quite engaging, yes! It almost wants to make me get up and join the festivities. This is interesting; how does this festive style, do you think, relate to any of Kannewet’s other work? Or just the artwork in general? Curator: The festive style—indeed. If my hunch is on target, I feel it speaks to that era, the Dutch Golden Age. With lively festivals being important cultural gatherings, works such as this were quite commonplace in reflecting the cultural norms. Imagine sitting there, with your instruments in hand and simply feeling, hearing, and knowing that these experiences must come to a close… What’s more melancholic than that? Editor: That paints a vivid picture! It's helped me appreciate how prints like these capture both political sentiments and cultural snapshots. It's an everyday item imbued with a bigger meaning! Curator: Indeed, old chum. These were echoes of life itself, embedded in paper for anyone to hear!