Rariteitenkabinet 1868

Editor: This engraving, "Rariteitenkabinet," or "Cabinet of Curiosities," created in 1868 by Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren and displayed at the Rijksmuseum, seems to depict a gathering of men inspecting an object pulled from a chest, as some others in the room watch on. What historical narrative do you see embedded in this image? Curator: Well, these so-called "Cabinets of Curiosities" were far more than just collections. They were a means by which primarily white Europeans constructed a very specific view of the world. What do you notice about the object they’re examining in particular? Editor: Now that you point it out, it seems they're focused on a dark sculpture, almost a mask, being pulled from a chest. The clothing suggests a colonial context? Curator: Exactly. This "cabinet" wasn’t a neutral collection, but a consolidation of power. Objects like this, taken from colonized lands, became symbols of European dominance. How do you think the woman reacts to the object compared to the men? Editor: Good point. The woman near the window seems to shrink back with some distress. So the artist might be attempting a subtle critique of the collector's mentality, or even showing its human cost? Curator: Precisely. These collections were displayed as trophies of conquest and were not merely artistic displays but statements of control. How can we then apply the word 'cabinet of curiosities' in a more interrogative way to collections and collecting now? Editor: This makes me think about museum ethics today, how museums should actively repatriate objects and represent colonial history in a sensitive, nuanced way. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely. The key takeaway here is understanding art as a product of its time, inseparable from power dynamics. Examining an image such as this gives one context to a contemporary discussion surrounding representation, agency, and historical narrative.