Gedenkblad van Vox Studiosorum, ter gelegenheid van het 50 jarig bestaan der Studentensocieteit Minerva te Leiden 1889

Editor: So, this is Pieter de Josselin de Jong's "Gedenkblad van Vox Studiosorum...", created in 1889 using ink for both drawing and printmaking. It feels very celebratory and grand, but I'm not sure what's being commemorated. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's definitely celebratory, and it's crucial to look at its context. This print commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Minerva student society in Leiden. Look at the central figure on the stage, he represents a member of the student body giving a speech to celebrate the society. Does that reading influence your understanding of its imagery? Editor: Definitely! The female figures to either side, then, are symbolic… perhaps of wisdom and opportunity? And the crowd feels very… male. Were women a part of this society in 1889? Curator: Exactly. Consider the societal structures of the late 19th century. Student societies, particularly elite ones like Minerva, were largely exclusive spaces for upper-class men. This print becomes a document of that exclusivity, whether intentional or not. Look closely—how might contemporary theories about power and representation inform how we view this "celebration"? Editor: It does highlight how celebratory imagery can also inadvertently reinforce existing power structures. By excluding women, even symbolically, it’s almost like Minerva is preserving that dominance. It definitely provides more context. Curator: Precisely! Seeing this as more than just a historical record lets us discuss how institutions, even celebratory ones, can perpetuate or challenge social norms through their representation. Editor: That's fascinating. I went from just seeing a grand historical drawing to recognizing some less obvious elements of exclusion. Thank you. Curator: And I see a budding activist!