Visschen 1850

Curator: Editor: Here we have Jan Schuitemaker’s 1850 print, "Visschen," a Dutch engraving illustrating various ways of preparing herring. It’s almost like a diagram, a visual taxonomy of smoked and salted fish. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Visually, I am drawn to the stark contrasts in the engraving, which create distinct spatial relationships between the figures and the background. Notice how the composition in each vignette is meticulously framed. How does the formal arrangement of these frames across the entire sheet contribute to your understanding of the piece? Editor: It does give a sense of order. So, is it then more about the composition and less about, say, what these images tell us about Dutch society in the 1850s? Curator: From a formalist standpoint, our primary concern isn't with sociological readings, but with how the artist's choices in form and structure affect meaning. Consider how the print medium itself—with its limitations of line and tone—shapes our perception. Does the engraving’s visual language offer specific constraints? Editor: So it's about the visual elements creating a unique aesthetic experience. The textures created by the engraving and the shapes within the frames create rhythm. Is it really about this visual effect? Curator: Precisely. The success of the work hinges upon the artist's skillful manipulation of these formal elements. We’re engaging with the artwork on its own terms, isolating its aesthetic components. Editor: I now recognize that the charm and meaning stem not just from the content of the illustrations but how the layout conveys a message that stands alone. Curator: An excellent observation. The materiality of the engraving, its precise lines, combined with the ordered grid, presents a fascinating visual puzzle, resolved through close observation and aesthetic appreciation.