Het Vaderlandsch Werpspel 1786

Editor: So, this is "Het Vaderlandsch Werpspel," a print made in 1786 by Jan Oortman. It looks like an old engraving...a kind of game board maybe? It’s so detailed but also a bit cryptic. What can you tell me about what this game meant back then? Curator: Indeed. It’s a fascinating piece of political ephemera. "Werpspel" translates to something like 'throwing game', which could relate to the act of making political decisions, of taking sides, like tossing a coin. Remember this was right before the Patriot revolution. So the game isn't just about entertainment. Look at the medallions, what do you notice about them? Editor: Well, many seem to depict people in different poses or professions… maybe reflecting different societal roles? Are they connected to factions in the political arena at the time? Curator: Exactly! It’s a satirical commentary on the socio-political landscape, packaged as a game. The figures, professions and symbols represent different political factions vying for influence. Consider the central image – the theatrical setting of an 'assembly' implies ideas played out in front of the people. Given that imagery, what role would a game like this have played back in the Dutch Golden Age? Editor: I guess…it would have served as both entertainment and a way to spread political messages among different audiences. Making light of those competing "figures". Almost like political propaganda but in a palatable form. Curator: Precisely. And the location where these types of works were displayed also tells us much about their accessibility and visibility, and by extension their possible influence on political sentiments at that time. These visual cues shaped public opinion. Editor: That makes a lot of sense! I thought it was just a quirky old game, but it’s a window into 18th-century Dutch politics. Curator: Exactly! The art of this era reflects society. A print like this shows how art was deeply embedded in public life, influencing perceptions and even action. Now I want to find more political art.