Pair of pistols and a bullet associated with the death of William Frederick of Nassau, Stadtholder of Friesland c. 1650

Curator: These are two pistols and the bullet associated with the death of William Frederick of Nassau, Stadtholder of Friesland, crafted around 1650. They are currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Stark. Beautiful in their lethal elegance, yet deeply unsettling. They speak volumes about power, violence, and the fraught history of leadership. The display aesthetic almost mutes the violence, though it is clear. Curator: Absolutely. Examining the social context of these objects provides crucial insights. William Frederick's death occurred during a turbulent period, following a conflict between the Prince of Orange and the province of Friesland. These pistols become charged with political weight, serving as material witnesses to that power struggle. Editor: Exactly. They also prompt me to consider the intersectionality of class, gender, and violence. The fact that these tools were used to dispatch a Stadtholder exposes the extreme stakes during this historical period, especially for individuals positioned at this very point of authority, like Frederick of Nassau. Curator: Consider, too, how these objects were subsequently displayed and preserved. Museums mediate our understanding, constructing narratives around events like this death and its key actors. Their placement influences perception of legitimacy or condemnation. Editor: Do you think the very act of presenting them removes some of the immediacy and raw reality, sanitizes them for display, or does it memorialize the violent incident in the hopes that history does not repeat itself? Curator: I believe this artifact’s continued public display generates a sense of responsibility, acknowledging the political and social dimensions intertwined with acts of violence that can, and do, effect people today. We need critical art history to ensure that we’re unpacking historical injustices through thoughtful inquiry. Editor: And on the purely object level, look at that wood. Curator: Exactly, it stands stark. Reflecting our shared yet often differing points of view regarding art. Editor: Yes, quite stark indeed. A reminder of the narratives objects carry and how institutions frame them.