Tempel der Vrede voor het vuurwerk van 30 augustus 1721 1721 - 1735

Editor: So, here we have "Tempel der Vrede voor het vuurwerk van 30 augustus 1721," or "Temple of Peace for the fireworks of August 30, 1721," a drawing from sometime between 1721 and 1735 by Jan Goeree, currently at the Rijksmuseum. It seems to depict a large structure in a city, possibly for a celebration. There are interesting compositional layers – a large, dark, sky with cherubs contrasts with a well-lit cityscape. What draws your eye in this piece? Curator: The dynamism of Goeree’s composition arises from a calculated arrangement of forms and voids. Consider how the stable, rectilinear architecture is countered by the swirling cloudscape and the active figures. The eye is led from the solid base of the temple upward, tracing the ascending lines of the structure before encountering the ephemeral cloud formations. Editor: I see what you mean about the interplay between the solid and the ephemeral. The figures definitely create a sense of movement, almost disrupting the stillness of the temple. What does the baroque style lend to the overall affect? Curator: The baroque, visible in the rich detail and theatrical arrangement, provides a dramatic intensity. Consider the meticulously rendered architectural details of the temple, and how those forms communicate authority and order in contrast to the chaotic fireworks display and exaggerated motion of the cherubic figures overhead. This juxtaposition reinforces a sense of spectacle. How does the coloring influence this contrast? Editor: I think the coloring is working in the same way, to intensify the composition's contrasts. The brighter colors on the structure itself call attention to the human aspect of it. But then the dark and muted colors above makes you notice the contrast between heaven and earth. Curator: Precisely. Through careful attention to formal elements such as line, composition, color, and contrast, Goeree constructs not just a scene, but a structured experience. Editor: It’s fascinating how just focusing on the formal aspects reveals so much. I now see the fireworks representing chaos contained by reason of architecture, expressed using formal techniques.