In 't Jaar 1138 c. 1789 - 1810

Editor: This ink and watercolor drawing, titled "In 't Jaar 1138," was created around 1789-1810 by an anonymous artist. The scene depicts a gathering of people with a kneeling figure before what appears to be a bishop. It gives off a sense of formal ceremony and… solemnity? What symbolic weight would you say the bishop, and that crozier he's holding, are carrying in this image? Curator: The crozier is interesting, isn’t it? We can see that symbol as more than just an indicator of religious authority; consider what it represents across time – spiritual guidance, but also, in many eras, temporal power. It plants the church firmly within events of 1138. What feelings does it stir in *you* to see this blending of church and state? Editor: It does feel very intentional, placing the church at the center of historical events. Almost like the church *is* history. What do you make of the kneeling figure, in contrast to the standing crowd? Curator: Absolutely! This moment captures something powerful about societal structures. Who is allowed to stand, and who is forced to kneel? And consider the garments worn; they are signifiers of class and status, just as the posture is one of submission. Note also, how those details can evoke a sense of cultural memory; prompting reflection on societal roles. Is the drawing then, in your view, offering a celebration, or critique, of established hierarchies? Editor: I think... more of a critique? The somber tones and that single, submissive figure definitely lean that way. It really does highlight how symbols can reflect complicated social and political power dynamics! Curator: Indeed. And how those power dynamics resonate through generations via imagery. Something to keep in mind as we move through art history. Editor: Definitely something to remember. I'll be looking at those visual cues with fresh eyes now.