Omwenteling te Haarlem, 19 januari 1795 1795

Curator: Let's spend some time with Vincent Jansz. van der Vinne’s “Omwenteling te Haarlem, 19 januari 1795.” Created in ink and pencil, it commemorates a historical upheaval in the Dutch city of Haarlem. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the sheer mass of people depicted. It feels both celebratory and chaotic, like a moment on the brink of something big, all rendered in delicate strokes. It almost has a quality of newsprint – gritty but informative. Curator: That perceived "grittiness" comes directly from Van der Vinne’s process. The preparatory sketches likely were rapidly drawn on the spot to capture the event unfolding in front of him; the final product likely was a response to popular prints. These quickly-made impressions held a great value in conveying revolutionary happenings to a wider audience. Editor: There’s such a powerful tension between the energy of the crowd and the static nature of a cityscape depicted behind it. What appears to be a civic building looms distantly, dwarfed in some way by the very 'revolution' happening here. Almost as if, architecturally speaking, it is also on the brink of total change. I wonder who is actually in charge at that moment, the established order... or that crazy street theatre right here? Curator: Exactly, and notice how van der Vinne positions the common citizen within the composition as not just an anonymous figure, but as a crucial element of socio-political change through visual art at this moment. We can’t dismiss the materiality. It's not paint; it's ink and pencil, readily available materials of mass production allowing for a broad distribution of information at a time of immense upheaval. It emphasizes access and participation on every level. Editor: Yes, exactly! I can just picture the scene, right. Cold air, chanting, someone’s probably spilling their beer and generally shouting! Even though this happened over two centuries ago it still somehow manages to ignite a strange tingle of possibility; something exciting is starting... or something bad ending, depending on which side of the barricades you are stood! What are your parting thoughts? Curator: The “Omwenteling te Haarlem” highlights the way revolutionary fervour intersects with print culture. It's not just about what is depicted but about the material reality of how revolutionary ideas and happenings spread, prompting change in perception through visual records and accessible creation and distribution.