Gezicht op het stadhuis en de markt te Naarden Possibly 1861 - 1866

Editor: This pencil drawing, "Gezicht op het stadhuis en de markt te Naarden" – or, "View of the town hall and market in Naarden" – created sometime between 1861 and 1866 by Cornelis Springer, feels surprisingly serene. What draws your eye in this cityscape? Curator: What strikes me is how Springer’s realism, in its careful depiction of architecture, unintentionally chronicles a specific moment in Naarden's social history. Notice how the grandeur of the town hall contrasts with the everyday scenes, the implied interactions between people in what appears to be a quite staged rendition. Who were the people that inhabited this space, what was their relation to this specific urban landscape? Did everyone have the same access to and enjoyment of it? Editor: So, it's not just about the buildings, but the stories they tell about the people who lived and worked there? Curator: Exactly. A drawing like this can unwittingly reflect power dynamics, like who has their history recorded and whose is erased, as much as it displays buildings and objects. Consider who had the means to commission or purchase such art in 19th century Netherlands. What can this art tell us about those who are missing from the image? Who isn't depicted or remembered, and why? How does this impact urban planning? Editor: That adds a whole new layer. It makes me think about whose perspective we are really seeing and who might have been excluded. It pushes me to question what "realism" actually captures, or doesn't. Curator: Precisely. And from that starting point we can begin to develop richer and more meaningful understandings. Editor: Thank you! That’s given me a lot to consider regarding the hidden narratives within such a seemingly straightforward cityscape. Curator: And hopefully, it'll make you consider not just who is depicted in the artwork, but who profits from their image!