De Cimbren trekken over de Alpen 1782 - 1784

Reinier Vinkeles created this engraving, "De Cimbren trekken over de Alpen", sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. It depicts the ancient Cimbri tribe crossing the Alps. The image reflects a renewed interest in classical history, particularly the narratives of migration and cultural encounter that shaped European identity. Made in the Netherlands, a nation with its own history of migration and conquest, Vinkeles's engraving taps into a broader European fascination with the past. The scene is rendered with an emphasis on the challenges and drama of the journey, a theme that resonates with the era's romantic sensibilities. The Rijksmuseum, as an institution, plays a role in preserving and interpreting this historical narrative, shaping our understanding of the past through its collection and presentation. By studying archival sources and historical texts, we can better understand the social and institutional contexts that influenced both the creation and reception of this engraving.