Elfde slede 1776

Curator: Abraham Delfos' "Elfde slede," dating from 1776 and held here at the Rijksmuseum, offers us a fascinating glimpse into Rococo aesthetics. Editor: It's striking, this delicate watercolour illustration. There's a distinct coolness to the palette and yet, an undeniable extravagance in the ornamentation. Curator: Indeed. Delfos, working within a strong Rococo tradition, provides social commentary through genre-painting, really, with detailed rendering that invites scrutiny. Watercolors, as a medium, lent themselves beautifully to depictions of aristocratic display. We can imagine it reproduced, sold, exchanged, consumed among a certain social stratum. Editor: Absolutely. Observe how the formal arrangement divides the image—we've got the rigid symmetry of the guards countered by the curvilinear lines of the sleigh and horse. The play of straight versus curved, muted colours versus ornamented sleigh create visual interest, wouldn’t you say? The formal attire is of significant visual weight to me. Curator: Precisely. Consider the craftsmanship embedded in those royal attires, and horse-drawn sleigh. The luxurious fabrics, the hand-painted porcelain-like details on the carriage itself— all hint at extensive, perhaps even exploitative, labour networks to produce and procure those materials. The production becomes symbolic in and of itself, as is that symbol reflected and reinforced through purchase and display of works like this. Editor: A sharp reading, one might agree. Beyond labor and materials, the Rococo aesthetic in itself leans into fantasy, into decoration and diversion, and into, perhaps, artifice. A fine illustration it is. Look at the sunburst on the horse’s headgear. It could signify triumph! Curator: It highlights the status and social relationships involved, which I find far more meaningful than "triumph", but your read is as valid. Still, reflecting on the networks of production, and distribution behind images like these and others, and understanding those connections, may change how the visual culture is perceived. Editor: Perhaps so. It's a potent artwork, either way, this "Elfde slede."