Moord op Wirich von Daun, graaf van Falkenstein, 1598 1780 - 1795

Editor: So, here we have "Moord op Wirich von Daun, graaf van Falkenstein, 1598", or "Murder of Wirich von Daun, Count of Falkenstein, 1598" by Jacobus Buys, created sometime between 1780 and 1795. It's a pen and ink drawing currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It definitely gives off a dramatic, theatrical kind of vibe, almost stagey. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Well, the first thing that jumps out is the implied narrative – a frozen moment in a historical event. It's rendered with such stark, almost brutal honesty, wouldn’t you say? Buys isn’t shying away from the grim reality of violence. It makes you wonder about the motivations behind immortalizing such a scene, so long after it happened. Editor: That’s true. I mean, you see this poor guy sprawled on the ground... Was Buys glorifying violence or condemning it? It’s kind of hard to tell, especially since it’s dated nearly 200 years later. Curator: Perhaps he was exploring the complexities of power and betrayal. Or maybe he just wanted to make the moral pendulum swing. I love how the Baroque style enhances that tension. It adds to the overall sense of chaos and unease. Look at how Buys has placed figures in and out of the shallow body of water. Very odd. Editor: Absolutely. And it’s intriguing that the scene seems set both outdoors with nature, but also inside an estate near the front. It creates an odd tension. There's almost too much happening. Curator: Exactly. But isn’t that so much of the beauty of art? It presents, invites, but rarely tells. Editor: I guess so. It's like Buys wanted to stir up a conversation about this historical murder rather than dictate the way to perceive it. I appreciate the discussion! Curator: Indeed, it's an intriguing puzzle to ponder, don't you think? Makes one feel delightfully unsettled, and that's a valuable experience, too.