Gild- of kermis-os 1761 - 1804

Curator: Here we have a print, "Gild- of Kermis-os," created sometime between 1761 and 1804 by Erven de Weduwe Jacobus van Egmont and housed in the Rijksmuseum. What are your first thoughts on this work? Editor: Well, the ox is so strangely adorned. It's both festive and slightly unsettling, knowing the title references a "kermis," or fair. The mix of celebration and the somber subject matter creates a unique mood. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image, to me, speaks volumes about the public role of art during that period and its relationship to cultural rituals. The decorated ox wasn't just an animal; it was a spectacle, a symbol within the 'kermis'. These fairs served not only as entertainment but as displays of community, commerce, and, indeed, even mortality. How do you think the political or social atmosphere played into the way imagery like this might have been consumed by the public? Editor: That’s fascinating. So the ox, in a way, becomes a focal point for anxieties about mortality amidst the festivities. And the poem below only further emphasizes this reading, no? Curator: Exactly. The Dutch Golden Age was complex, and prints like these offered commentary, however subtle, on social practices. Were these rituals a cathartic expression or something else entirely? What’s your take? Editor: I hadn't thought of it as commentary before, but now I see the piece as engaging with a conversation about societal values and the place of animals in it. It goes beyond a simple depiction to engage with cultural forces at play. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! It reminds us that art doesn't exist in a vacuum; it's a product of, and a contributor to, the socio-political environment. I've really enjoyed dissecting its symbolism and cultural significance together.