Schaatswedstrijd 1855

Curator: Here we have "Schaatswedstrijd," or "Skating Competition," an 1855 engraving by Willem Troost, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It strikes me as a surprisingly muted and observational depiction of what must have been a really vibrant event. There’s almost a dreamlike quality. Curator: That dreamlike quality is enhanced by Troost's delicate handling of the engraving process. Consider, though, that genre scenes like this were popular for disseminating images of Dutch national identity, celebrating communal activities and traditions. Editor: Yes, I was immediately struck by the explicit public nature of the spectacle. Who has access, who participates? Look at the detail of those national flags! How does Troost subtly encode power structures within what appears to be simple fun? Curator: Absolutely. While ostensibly about sport and leisure, the print engages in visual nation-building. Notice the meticulous attention paid to the crowd, an effort to render the diversity of the Dutch populace as a unified, celebratory body. Editor: Though, of course, such idealized representations were often deployed to smooth over very real social fissures and inequities. It’s fascinating how quickly a seemingly benign image can become freighted with so much… baggage. Curator: It does make one think about the role of the artist and the commissioner in shaping a particular narrative, or omitting another. But here, there's undeniable technical skill on display; and at the very least we can see the event through the lens of the past. Editor: Definitely, while keeping an open, critical mindset, alive to the art’s possibilities as well as its inherent historical and cultural limitations. Thank you. Curator: It has been my pleasure. I hope this inspires everyone to revisit how they observe not only historical artifacts but today's imagery.