De aankomst van de graaf van Leicester te Amsterdam, 1585 1780 - 1795

Editor: Here we have Jacobus Buys’ "The Arrival of the Count of Leicester in Amsterdam, 1585," a drawing from sometime between 1780 and 1795, made with pen and ink. The monochrome tones create a sort of antiquated atmosphere for me. What jumps out at you? Curator: Well, for starters, the city seems almost to rise up to meet the Count, doesn’t it? The perspective makes the buildings loom, dwarfing even the procession accompanying him. It makes you wonder what Buys was trying to convey about power, doesn't it? The theatricality of it all is delicious! I almost want to know, *feel*, the experience of witnessing such a regal moment! Don't you think it hints at the artist's ambivalence? Editor: Ambivalence? In what way? Curator: This drawing romanticizes the event, of course. But those towering buildings and that mass of faces in the background almost feel…oppressive. Do they celebrate, or just watch? And what about the technique? That use of line and shade is quite unusual, too, creating this strangely dreamlike, yet detailed picture! Editor: So it’s not just a straightforward historical depiction? It's almost like the artist's own commentary slipped in. I never considered that! Curator: Precisely! The Count's arrival was a HUGE deal at the time, of course, a real turning point in Dutch history. It is nice that you've recognized and articulated that feeling, the sense of being lost in dreamlike recollection when looking at this piece, almost if a ghost of the past is lingering in the image. Now you can understand that these pieces were created in a very distinct time period; where neoclassicism heavily relied on historical thematics to offer veiled critiques. This piece has a subtle yet intriguing complexity, no? Editor: Absolutely. It's made me rethink how I look at historical art. Thanks so much! Curator: My pleasure! Always remember, even what seems straightforward can have so many beautiful secrets tucked away inside.