Sint Bernardusabdij 1682 - 1730

Editor: This is "Sint Bernardusabdij," an etching dating from sometime between 1682 and 1730, created by Jacobus Harrewijn. It gives me a very strong sense of a place, and I wonder, what jumps out at you when you look at this print? Curator: Oh, the dance of light and shadow immediately captures my imagination! Can you almost smell the dampness rising from the water? Jacobus isn't merely documenting; he is almost breathing life onto the paper. The perspective seems somehow dreamlike, almost as though viewed from a drifting boat – what do you think of that effect? Editor: That's interesting, I see it! It's like we are pulled into the scene through the river traffic. There is this feeling of grandeur, of powerful structures juxtaposed against the movement of the everyday, I guess? Curator: Precisely. Harrewijn invites us to contemplate not only the architecture of the Abbey, rigid, solid but also the rhythm of human existence unfolding right beside it. It reminds me, everything we perceive is a personal echo, colored by our own experiences, wouldn't you agree? Editor: It's almost unsettling how contemporary it feels, despite being so old. This makes me think about the resilience of cities... Curator: I think that is right on. So what is your biggest takeaway from seeing this today? Editor: It makes me realize how art can be this incredible portal connecting us to places and times far removed from our own experiences. And, also that what the artist invites us to explore may resonate in different ways depending on who's looking. What about you? Curator: This exercise is making me reflect that even after years, artworks keep revealing hidden aspects to anyone that engages with them with the right amount of curiosity and emotion. Thank you.