Zwarte man en vier witte mannen voor een tent 1844 - 1874

Editor: This is "Zwarte man en vier witte mannen voor een tent," made sometime between 1844 and 1874 by Willem Hendrik Stam. It's a print, using etching and engraving techniques, and currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It's quite dark, and difficult to make out. What stands out to me is the tension in the scene; what do you make of it? Curator: Given its material – an etching – we need to think about the process. Stam, as an artist, has made decisions here, to reveal some of the figures while shrouding others in darkness. Etching, engraving; the labour involved. It would be crucial to understand *where* he created this work; what access did he have to materials? Was this mass produced, or for a specific patron? It is fascinating to consider the production aspect - how this print comes to be circulated, bought and sold. This can tells us as much about Dutch colonial society and its representation as does the scene depicted here. Editor: That's fascinating! So you're thinking about the accessibility of art and its connection to class. But about the scene... Curator: And labour conditions, don’t forget. If we examine closely the contrast of the medium - the means of production here - versus what the market expects and enjoys - how complicit might Stam be with cultural consumption that relies on this visual dynamic? Are these mass-produced images supporting power dynamics of the era, regardless of Stam's own beliefs? The labour behind creating such works might be obscuring certain power structures at play. It’s all interlinked. Editor: I see what you mean. Looking at the print through that lens changes my perception quite a bit. Thanks for opening my eyes to those layers! Curator: Precisely; focusing on materials and means challenges us to see beyond the surface. We need to remember this piece is a result of labor and choices, existing within and commenting on the wider world around it.