Het Metalen Kruis, 1832 1863

Editor: Here we have Anthonius Johannes van Tetroode's print on paper, "Het Metalen Kruis, 1832," created in 1863. It’s text based and feels quite austere. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This print, made three decades after the event it commemorates, is deeply entrenched in the construction of Dutch national identity. The text is a poem that reflects on the Metal Cross – a military decoration established in 1830. The Rijksmuseum is the right location, as it was originally founded as a space to reflect and solidify national narratives. The poem links the monarchy ("Voor trouw aan Vaderland en Koning!") to military bravery and sacrifice. It underscores the perceived legitimacy of the Dutch state. How do you think its creation three decades later affected its role? Editor: It’s interesting to consider that distance. Maybe its purpose shifted from immediate commemoration to reinforcing a historical narrative? Do you think the printing process itself played a role in shaping this national identity? Curator: Absolutely! The print medium allowed for wider dissemination and greater public engagement with these nationalistic ideals than, say, a painting displayed only in a wealthy patron's home. The deliberate mass distribution made it inherently political. I would suggest that it allowed those who may never be up close and personal with the Dutch King or leaders to somehow, on some level, have access to that kind of messaging through the poem and repeated printing of the artwork. Editor: That makes sense. I hadn't considered the impact of print and broader messaging of something created for national purposes and broader appeal. It's made me think a lot more about the relationship between art, state and propaganda. Curator: Indeed. Art often operates within these complex networks of power and ideology, whether intentionally or not. I find the seemingly humble print revealing as it relates to these greater historical ideas.