NSB pamflet gericht tegen de Amsterdamse gemeentesecretaris S.J. van Lier en zijn vrouw, ca. 1936 1936

Editor: This is a fascinating piece, a pamphlet from around 1936 aimed against Amsterdam's city secretary, S.J. van Lier. It's rendered in pen and ink, almost like a dark fairytale illustration, yet the text makes it clear that this is a political message. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Indeed, the apparent whimsicality belies a potent visual rhetoric. Consider the overflowing cornucopias flanking the architectural rendering, symbols of abundance turned sinister, almost vomiting their contents. It reflects anxiety, a fear of lost prosperity and a sense of values being overturned. What emotions does the arrangement of laurel wreaths decorated with bows on the side evoke? Editor: Well, with all of those civic honorifics… pride, tradition… maybe even a little mockery? Curator: Precisely. The artist leverages recognizable symbols to critique the city secretary and his family. Think of the swastika, glaringly obvious when pointed out, that gives this political hate propaganda pamphlet a far deeper meaning as we realize how the symbols contribute to cultural memory. What happens when that continuity is violently warped? Editor: It sounds like images in this piece served as cultural shorthand back then and function similarly today, whether we always recognize the symbols consciously or not. Curator: Exactly. By understanding the image in relation to propaganda, social status, and historical moments of crisis and conflict, one gains insights into both historical symbolism and recurring issues. Editor: I never considered all those symbols before; thanks for opening my eyes! Curator: My pleasure! It's vital that as we explore symbols, their shifting meaning across cultures and the passage of time become apparent as well.