Maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1870 (plaat 2) 1870

Editor: This is "Maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1870 (plaat 2)" or "Masquerade of the Leiden Students, 1870 (plate 2)" by Gerardus Johannes Bos. It's a watercolor drawing held at the Rijksmuseum. The array of costumed figures is really striking! How would you interpret this scene? Curator: What we're seeing is a constructed performance of history, presented in the language of Romanticism and Realism, both of which were preoccupied with accurate portrayals – or at least, portrayals aspiring to accuracy. How does the fact this is a student masquerade play into the creation of social and cultural meaning, would you say? Editor: Well, I imagine it's a way for these students to connect with and interpret their history through play. Like historical reenactment, almost? Curator: Precisely! This drawing, as a record of that event, tells us something about the construction of identity at the University. The figures aren't simply dressed in "historical" costumes; they're carefully arranged, almost as if parading an understanding, or perhaps even an ideal, of the past before a contemporary audience. Consider, for instance, the institutional function of academic processions even now. Editor: I see, so it’s not just about looking back, but making a statement in the present through a performance of the past? Curator: Absolutely. The Leiden students used costume, performance and even the artistic styles of the era to participate in ongoing cultural discourses, crafting and solidifying their social identities through engagement with their past. What do you think is implied through the artist placing these characters in formation in front of a brick building. Editor: Now that you mention it, I think it is a symbol of education and knowledge to suggest to viewers that education has to involve a link to their historical and cultural past. Curator: Precisely! A powerful point, Editor! This piece really illuminates how historical events are used, interpreted and portrayed. It definitely shows how socio-cultural influences shape artistic expressions. Editor: I’ve never thought of student life being intertwined with the greater scope of cultural values like that, I'll have to keep this in mind!