Vermakelijk / brommers / spel / met zang c. 1830

Editor: Here we have "Vermakelijk / brommers / spel / met zang," roughly translated as "Amusing Carriage Game with Song," created around 1830 by Hendrik Moolenyzer. It's a watercolour print and feels almost like a board game laid out. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s fascinating to see this work in the Rijksmuseum, primarily because it shows the blurring lines between popular culture and high art of the period. The work’s title and layout signals entertainment but there's also a level of social commentary here, wouldn’t you say? Editor: I see what you mean. The little scenes in each frame... they look like satirical observations. Like mini-cartoons almost. Curator: Exactly! Think about the socio-political context. Romanticism favored emotional expression and individualism. Moolenyzer cleverly uses this lighthearted "game" to probably critique societal norms or events. Does the imagery remind you of political cartoons found in newspapers and pamphlets of the era? Editor: It does, now that you mention it. And the instructions? How does "speed against speed" tie into that commentary? Curator: It likely alludes to the rapid societal changes of the time - new modes of transport, perhaps even growing class tensions. The horse-drawn carriages, the figures engaged in various activities... it’s a snapshot of a society in motion, or perhaps a society struggling with that motion. Note the numbered stations and use of dice, designed to show chance occurrences that have drastic outcomes. How effective! Editor: So, it's not just a game. It’s using that format to make observations about Dutch society? Curator: Precisely. It brings to light that artworks were not merely aesthetic objects, but they actively participated in cultural discourse. Editor: That is very insightful! It’s changed my perception entirely. Thanks for that perspective. Curator: It’s a reminder that art doesn't exist in a vacuum but instead is embedded in intricate cultural networks. I see this piece differently, too.