Utrechtse student droomt hoe hij de zomer zal doorbrengen, 1860 1860

Curator: This lithograph print, dating back to 1860, is entitled "Utrechtse student droomt hoe hij de zomer zal doorbrengen"—"A Utrecht Student's Dream of Summer Vacation," if you will. It’s from the hand of Carel Christiaan Antony Last and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's quite a complex piece. My first thought is of those elaborate samplers from centuries ago. There's almost a scrapbook feel, compiling different vignettes and idyllic summertime scenarios, mostly depicting leisurely leisure. Curator: Precisely. The scenes are arranged in a rather deliberate fashion, you see, almost like episodes in a story. It presents these potential vacation daydreams – classical figures reclining, students sunbathing, socializing... There's a deep-seated yearning present, capturing that potent anticipatory phase before summer freedom arrives. Editor: What's interesting to me is that this feels entirely produced in its effect, by this detailed application of labor into this relatively widely circulated lithograph process of the mid-19th century. It seems geared toward those who could perhaps only dream, through material reproductions, of enjoying this privileged “romantic” lifestyle. Curator: The use of allegorical figures alongside everyday scenes offers an intriguing contrast, wouldn’t you say? The lounging classical nudes and the Greek goddess-like statue are potent symbols, perhaps representing ideal relaxation and erudition, yet accessible in a relatively low cost artwork. Editor: I am stuck by how much visual information there is in the details that printing, with its chemical applications, makes reproducible. But these are just copies—commodities available for mass distribution! This contrasts sharply with the elite dream of extended idleness and carefree ease, of seemingly immaterial leisure on display, doesn't it? Curator: I appreciate the multiple readings inherent in Last's symbolism; a playful blend of aspiration and subtle social commentary is clearly in play, reflecting that perennial human inclination for summer respite. Editor: Indeed. The means of production here throw a spotlight on this dream factory, reminding us to see it critically. Curator: Seeing art with your approach really helps put its cultural moment into a much sharper focus! Editor: And likewise, I appreciate how seeing your engagement with symbols, reveals greater intention to this artwork’s meanings.