Bewijs van toegang ter bezigtiging van het tweede gedeelte der Galerij Schilderijen, enz. van wijlen Z.M. Willem II, Koning der Nederlanden. Van 18 Augustus tot 6 September 1851 1851

Curator: Welcome. We are standing before a work titled "Bewijs van toegang ter bezigtiging van het tweede gedeelte der Galerij Schilderijen, enz. van wijlen Z.M. Willem II, Koning der Nederlanden. Van 18 Augustus tot 6 September 1851", created in 1851 by an anonymous artist. It’s a pen and ink drawing with printed elements now residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh my! The mood… well, I find it peculiar! Is it meant to be humorous? I sense a hint of caricature with sharp irony that almost pricks, you know? It is so intricate in detail, yet overall its design reads somewhat like a riddle. Curator: Absolutely, you're spot on about the caricature. It also fits within a genre painting context with a clear satirical viewpoint, if you consider the items of “wageninges” and “Amersfoortdos" depicted as part of the whole tableau. This was part of a social commentary from the Netherlands on King Willem II's art collection being accessible for public viewing. Editor: That little figure behind the smoking man...what IS that? The man in front is calmly handling his smoke, but there is all of this crazy imagery crowding him; even a small illustration of corn stalks hanging over his shoulder! Curator: Consider this from a political and social viewpoint in its time: It shows the availability and, frankly, chaos in cataloging his acquired possessions after the King's death. Its publication was no simple matter and part of ongoing public debates in 1851! Editor: It certainly isn’t a simple still-life of someone peacefully enjoying their tobacco. I see now the satire! The artist layers detail upon detail to really evoke an overall feeling of absurdity. What looks like casual enjoyment, with closer examination, morphs into biting wit. It seems both cutting and, perhaps, just a tiny bit self-deprecating! Curator: It mirrors much of the political instability following Willem II’s rule; using caricature, the artist gives life to a national situation and mood in Dutch society after his passing. Editor: Amazing! Well, my first impressions were admittedly muddled; understanding the satirical lens reveals such fascinating cultural critique in all those dense lines and implied shadows. Curator: It certainly is. It also reveals to us that a single image can offer access to whole historical perspectives and reveal a complex historical debate to a contemporary audience.