Gezicht op stadswallen van Naarden 1933

Editor: We are looking at "View of the Ramparts of Naarden", an etching by Simon Moulijn from 1933. There's something peaceful, almost nostalgic, about it. What symbols or images stand out to you in this print? Curator: I’m immediately struck by the deliberate framing. The ramparts themselves, acting as a physical barrier, are softened by the presence of the trees. They represent not only protection, but also resilience, a constant negotiation between defense and nature. What do these trees suggest to you? Editor: Perhaps a connection to the passage of time and the enduring power of nature itself? Do you think the location, Naarden, has any specific cultural significance? Curator: Absolutely. Naarden, with its distinctive star fort, carries centuries of military history, which adds a layer of gravity. Yet, Moulijn chooses this gentle portrayal. Consider how landscape imagery was used during wartime; did it emphasize the beauty to be defended, or some darker symbolic meaning? Editor: I hadn’t thought about that angle! The calmness I initially perceived seems now like a deliberate choice. I wonder what someone at that time would have felt looking at this piece. Curator: Precisely! Artworks always exist in dialogue with their historical moment, reflecting collective hopes and fears. Do you notice how Moulijn uses light and shadow? Editor: It’s subtle, almost muted, creating this quiet, contemplative mood, drawing us in. Curator: Indeed, it's a space for reflection. Seeing this, it gives me much to contemplate about the way in which a simple place like Naarden held and holds a certain sense of home.