Lang Leeve Oranje / Willem de Vde 1761 - 1804

Curator: Here we have a print titled "Lang Leve Oranje/Willem de Vde," dating from between 1761 and 1804. The artist is unknown, but it was printed by the Erven de Weduwe Jacobus van Egmont. What strikes you first about it? Editor: Immediately, the somewhat crude execution grabs me, particularly the engraving. You can practically feel the pressure of the plate. There's a sense of folk art rawness to it, which I find quite appealing against the backdrop of baroque grandeur that it hints at. Curator: Precisely. Its popular appeal is quite evident. "Lang Leve Oranje" translates to "Long Live Orange," celebrating William V, Prince of Orange. The piece acts as a historical and political artifact, revealing public sentiment and the use of imagery to rally support for the House of Orange during a turbulent period in Dutch history. Editor: It’s also interesting how the print incorporates text, blending image and the written word to hammer home its message. What paper was typically used in these prints, and where did the colors come from? It seems to challenge a pure ‘art’ category. More like ephemera than gallery art. Curator: Good point. The print utilizes fairly common materials—laid paper—which helped keep printing accessible to a broad public. The color looks applied afterwards, suggesting a further division of labor and adding value and layers of appeal. And it’s all designed to stir the people and remind them of Orange's place in their freedom! Editor: It is pretty remarkable how something made with such modest materials could be charged with so much political weight. Considering this piece from a labor perspective also enriches its study: understanding who physically made this, and in what environment, adds another vital historical layer. Curator: Agreed, thinking about it allows us to move beyond simply looking *at* art, toward exploring its social life. These kinds of prints acted as important tools for communicating complex ideas and cementing a specific historical narrative, or 'world-building' as we say these days. Editor: Absolutely. "Lang Leve Oranje"—a small piece with a lot to unpack. A solid example of how we can understand so much by investigating a work's tangible form.