Spotprent op de Britse binnenlandse problemen en de verhouding met Holland, ca. 1780 1780

Curator: Take a look at this intriguing print, "Spotprent op de Britse binnenlandse problemen en de verhouding met Holland," dating back to around 1780. It's held here at the Rijksmuseum. Quite a mouthful, isn't it? Editor: My initial thought? Claustrophobic. So much detail crammed onto a single plane! Like a theatre stage crammed with actors all vying for attention. You have gods sitting atop ships in clouds to something akin to a greek chorus to the left. It feels restless and almost feverish. Curator: The artist, whose name unfortunately hasn't come down to us, uses engraving, with line work. You really sense the layering of symbolism in this period of conflict. You get how print media spread polemical ideas, reflecting political tensions between Britain and Holland. Editor: I'm interested in the engraving. See how this medium democratizes commentary, making it cheaply accessible to the masses? You've got news becoming spectacle, transformed into a consumer object. Where was this printed? Who owned the printing press, what was the system of labor that it relies upon? This helps tell us who is getting to create the picture that is shaping the moment, it becomes clear who and who isn't being listened to! Curator: Exactly! This form allowed for satire to circulate quickly and influence public opinion during the Anglo-Dutch War. It captures a very specific moment and translates complex international politics into visual allegory. You’re able to reach more, and new audiences that had been previous locked away. Editor: The figures down at the base almost appear to be haggling about the British-Dutch situation. We’re really focused in on materiality here – ink, paper, distribution networks as crucial elements of public discourse. That's such a beautiful consideration when reflecting on the politics of conflict. I have to wonder though how readily it was received by the "public". It doesn't scream welcoming, at first glance. Curator: Well, I would venture to suggest it was anything but. Thank you for those enlightening thoughts! Editor: Absolutely, curator! I have never appreciated the thought given to something made with such immediacy, I thank you for that as well!