Kermis-prent 1761 - 1804

Editor: This is "Kermis-prent," a print from somewhere between 1761 and 1804, held here at the Rijksmuseum, and made by Erven de Weduwe Jacobus van Egmont. It has a playful, almost silly feel. What's your take on it? Curator: Oh, this little gem! To me, it whispers of fleeting moments, those ephemeral bursts of joy and community spirit. It's like catching a glimpse of a bustling marketplace through a keyhole, isn't it? Editor: I see what you mean! The text, though I can only make out bits of it, also talks about being happy and festive. Curator: Exactly! Now, imagine the artist's hand, the meticulous carving on that engraving… Feel the pulse of 18th-century Amsterdam thrumming beneath those lines? Do you think that changes the way you interpret it at all? Editor: Definitely! Thinking about it as a piece of 18th-century street culture gives it a sense of immediacy, almost like a snapshot. I’d imagined it to be stuffier, or posed. Curator: Beautiful. And that floral border, framing the raucous energy… Isn't it a lovely juxtaposition? To me, it reflects how joy can exist even in, or perhaps especially within, the structure of everyday life. Did you notice number 48 in the title? Editor: You're right! This must be from a series? So it really does have a newspaper-y "snapshot" quality. Curator: Indeed! It hints at something serial, almost commonplace. To create something of such artistic quality to serve common cultural consumption – wow! Editor: I didn’t expect so much life and character could be captured in such a small print! Curator: Precisely! And hopefully, a little curiosity about Amsterdam's street culture 300 years ago!