Negende blad in: Haga comitis illustrata; of het verheerlykt en verligt 's Gravenhage, 's-Gravenhage 1751 1751

Curator: This is an engraving from 1751 entitled "Negende blad in: Haga comitis illustrata; of het verheerlykt en verligt 's Gravenhage," which translates to "Ninth sheet in: Haga comitis illustrata; or the glorified and illuminated The Hague." It's currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought is how densely packed with information it is! A tight arrangement of text framed by a baroque floral and figurative design. It feels incredibly formal and official. Curator: Absolutely, and the print medium itself speaks volumes. It represents the increasing availability of printed information and how this was being used to disseminate knowledge and project power in the 18th century. It showcases a material shift from manuscript to mechanically reproduced text and images, shaping public opinion. Editor: You are right; printmaking significantly shifted historical and cultural contexts, influencing a wide range of visual and textual dissemination. How do you see the specific design elements contributing to the political project here? Curator: I am particularly interested in the ornate floral frame at the top; it is intricately engraved and, at second glance, appears to be a textile motif! That’s the interesting element. I mean, think of tapestries which function almost like journalistic documentation of grand houses during that period. And here you see a common, decorative trope applied for print, where textiles were frequently employed to document interiors, lifestyle, and so on. It hints at the wealthy lifestyle that authorities wished to associate with The Hague. Editor: Good point. This engraving seems to serve as an official document and propaganda piece, showcasing the city and its importance through carefully selected imagery and dense textual narrative. The act of glorifying, as the title suggests, plays into the historical project of urban development and civic pride. Curator: Indeed. The distribution of this kind of material constructs and reinforces collective memory. The intended consumers may have come to view print as an affordable textile rather than high-priced "art", but the message, repeated visually and verbally, creates consensus through a shift in material practices. Editor: The image presents The Hague as both a real and an idealized place. The text below presumably describes its features, linking real geography to concepts of enlightenment. Looking closer, this piece demonstrates the power of print in shaping the perceived grandeur of 's Gravenhage, reinforcing its significance in the European political landscape. Curator: For me, analyzing it as a complex weaving of socio-political context and material construction deepens my appreciation for how art and the circulation of visual information work to shape reality. Editor: For me, I think I leave this engraving thinking about the power of images in building not just cities but entire historical narratives.