Landhuis van Murat Bey 1803 - 1805

Editor: This is "Landhuis van Murat Bey," an engraving and etching made between 1803 and 1805 by Reinier Vinkeles, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It feels like such a formal and staged landscape. What is the context around making and displaying this work? Curator: Well, considering the historical and cultural contexts, this print functions as a tool for constructing a certain image of colonial power. Etchings like this one were circulated amongst European audiences. Do you notice how the Bey's residence is presented? Editor: Yes, it’s distanced, almost like a specimen. The vast, empty foreground separates the viewer from the residence. Curator: Precisely! It emphasizes the landscape as something to be observed and controlled from a distance. What does the architectural style, seemingly a blend of local and European design, suggest to you? Editor: Maybe an attempt to show some kind of assimilation of European tastes within a foreign setting. Curator: Indeed! Consider this artwork as part of a visual propaganda machine, aiming to influence public opinion and further legitimize the colonial project. It transforms cultural difference into picturesque exoticism, and exoticism into an argument for European dominance. Editor: So the purpose isn’t necessarily to faithfully depict the building, but to reinforce a certain narrative? Curator: Absolutely. The ‘Landhuis van Murat Bey’ becomes a symbol, charged with ideological implications, shaped by the institution displaying it and the socio-political forces it represents. Editor: This print provides more insight into European colonial attitudes of the 19th century than the actual building itself. Curator: Exactly. And recognizing that allows us to critically engage with the past and the ways it continues to shape our present.