Kapel en grafsteen van Erik XI van Zweden in de kloosterkerk van Varnhem 1692

Editor: This is "Kapel en grafsteen van Erik XI van Zweden in de kloosterkerk van Varnhem," a pen and ink drawing dating back to 1692, created by Willem Swidde. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It feels quite formal and staged, like a meticulously documented historical record. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: Well, my dear, what tickles my fancy is the dance between the grandiose and the everyday. Look at that church interior up top – the artist attempts perspective, right? But it feels slightly…off. Makes it a little dreamlike, doesn’t it? It's almost like the artist is sketching from memory, or perhaps sketching from a sketch! Then, that gravestone… It’s this weird blend of reverence and folk art. Three crowns hover around what I guess we can call "King Eric’s" head, all presented within this crumbling stone courtyard. Reminds me of a child's drawing, but immortalizing a King! Editor: I see what you mean! The slightly awkward perspective adds a certain charm, I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it. The king does seem a little…flat, though, almost cartoonish compared to the chapel itself. Curator: Exactly! I think that dissonance, that friction between styles, makes this image so compelling. It’s not just a record; it’s a meditation on how we remember, how we construct narratives of the past using the tools, skills, and perceptions we possess in the present. Makes you wonder, what did Swidde *really* think of Eric XI? Editor: That’s a great point. I was so focused on the historical aspect, but it's definitely about how Swidde, and by extension, we, interpret history. Curator: Yes, my friend. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the most truthful thing about it.