Inzegening van het vaandel, buiten Luik, 1790 1790

Editor: This is “Inzegening van het vaandel, buiten Luik, 1790,” a print by Cornelis Brouwer from 1790, held here at the Rijksmuseum. It depicts what appears to be the blessing of a banner, outside of Liège. It’s rendered with incredibly fine lines… giving it a formal but almost journalistic feel. What catches your eye? Curator: Given that date, 1790, I immediately think about the political and social turmoil sweeping Europe. The French Revolution had just begun, and its ripples were felt everywhere. Considering Brouwer's focus, “the blessing of the banner”, do you think this print glorifies a moment of local patriotism? Or might it be viewed as propaganda during a time of revolutionary change? Editor: Propaganda… that's interesting. I was seeing it more as a record, but I guess any depiction of a ceremony can be seen as an endorsement of it. How would the social context of the print's creation and consumption shape our understanding of it? Curator: Exactly. Think about the act of creating and distributing such a print. Who commissioned it? Who was the intended audience? Was it meant to rally support, document an event for posterity, or perhaps even subtly critique the established order through its representation of the ceremony? Remember, the power of art often lies not just in what is shown, but in what is left unsaid. Editor: So it is not only a scene, but a statement, intentionally shaping public opinion! I didn't consider that Brouwer might have had more in mind than documenting an event. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. And thinking about these historical currents also enriches the picture itself. It's fascinating to explore these intersections of art, history and politics.