Inval van de Noormannen in 810 1722 - 1750

Curator: This print, titled "Inval van de Noormannen in 810" by Simon Fokke, captures the invasion of the Norsemen in 810. The work, likely etched or engraved sometime between 1722 and 1750, offers a detailed historical scene. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the composition. The contrast between the densely packed figures near the ship and the open space leading to the fortified city creates a compelling sense of depth. It feels very dramatic. Curator: The printmaking process itself is central here. Notice how Fokke uses line and hatching to create volume and texture. Consider the socio-economic context: prints like these served as accessible ways to disseminate historical narratives to a wider audience. Editor: Absolutely, and that detailed linework gives it such a unique feel! Looking at the foreground, there is this almost playful rendering of the figures. I find myself wanting to decode the arrangement of figures; how the artist organized these forms creates tension, guiding my eye from the ship to the besieged fortress in the background. Curator: And those "playful" figures were involved in anything BUT playful work! Think about the division of labor required to create this print – the designer, the engraver, the printer. The work itself, like the events it depicts, emerges from the material conditions of its creation. We are witnessing history and a labor of art in a singular viewing experience. Editor: A beautiful interpretation. The semiotics are undeniable – each element is communicating, building on the others. This landscape really echoes an ancient battle and also seems to tell us something unique about early printmaking, if you view the city with its towering spires in tandem with the formidable ship. The overall impression conveys a blend of anxiety, foreboding and imminent change. Curator: It's fascinating how Fokke's choices as an engraver, rooted in the practicalities of production, resonate with this historical event, emphasizing not just the event itself but its broader impact. Editor: A beautiful work overall that merges method and representation! Curator: Indeed. This print, when contextualized, illuminates our understanding of history through material culture.