Voorstelling uitgespeeld door skeletten, ca. 1780 (?) 1750 - 1800

Editor: So, this etching is titled "Voorstelling uitgespeeld door skeletten, ca. 1780 (?)," which roughly translates to "Performance Played by Skeletons, around 1780." It's anonymous, housed in the Rijksmuseum, and created with pen, etching, and engraving. It definitely has a strong "memento mori" vibe, reminding us of death, but it also seems to have a satirical edge. What do you make of this piece? Curator: The biting satire you detect is spot on. The piece reflects a specific historical anxiety and, frankly, anger. Consider the period: the late 18th century. Social inequalities were stark, and death was an ever-present reality, regardless of social class. Editor: I see that now that you mention it! Curator: What does it say when even in death, class is paraded around, made light of, and reveled in. Even in the face of death, does anything actually change? The figures may be skeletons, but some are still wearing crowns and bishops robes, isn't it? Editor: So the skeleton wearing a crown still embodies the king? And those are clergy members? Curator: Precisely! The work critiques the rigid social structures of the time. The skeletons mocking positions of power are engaging in an allegory, of the failures of systems. Editor: I never thought about it like that before. It’s like, even death can't erase the marks of social hierarchy! Curator: Exactly. And thinking about it today, who does that reflect? Where can you find that inequality and satire today? Editor: This piece feels less like a morbid reminder of death and more like a commentary on societal issues that persist. I didn’t realize art from so long ago could be so relevant! Curator: Absolutely, and it's that dialogue between past and present that makes art history so compelling. Thank you!