Ornamenteel cartouche met ondergaande zon 1683 - 1733

Editor: Here we have "Ornamenteel cartouche met ondergaande zon," an engraving made sometime between 1683 and 1733, attributed to Bernard Picart. It’s at the Rijksmuseum. The scene is beautiful but rather somber with its setting sun and stormy clouds. What’s your read on this engraving? Curator: It is evocative, isn’t it? This cartouche is so much more than a simple decoration. Given its creation during the Enlightenment, it embodies the complex relationship between colonialism, faith, and reason. The setting sun could represent the waning power of the Church, whilst the rising power is alluded to through the laurel, referring to imminent colonial 'conquests.' The cherubs feel forced here. How might the indigenous people who suffered due to colonialism view those angelic figures? Editor: That's an interesting point. I hadn't thought about it from that perspective. I was mostly focused on the art historical aspects, seeing how the Baroque style comes through in the ornamentation and the allegorical imagery. Curator: Precisely, but how might contemporary theory shed new light on these classical interpretations? What does it mean to portray "conquests" so gloriously in light of the historical violence that occurred during this period? Can we disentangle aesthetics from ethics when observing colonial art? Editor: I guess I was viewing the cartouche at face value, focusing on its beauty, but I now understand how important it is to think critically about its historical and social context. To understand it beyond face value. Curator: Exactly! This seemingly beautiful piece becomes a space for reflection and debate once you consider its complicated position within systems of oppression. That way, art history fosters critical dialogue and societal change. Editor: It definitely gives me a lot to think about. Thanks for opening my eyes to the potential of the artwork as a colonial artefact! Curator: It’s by critically confronting the problematic parts of our past that we build a better future!