Ex libris van W. v.d. Hengel 1919

Curator: So, we have before us Lodewijk Schelfhout's 1919 etching, "Ex libris van W. v.d. Hengel," currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Right. It's a striking image – very stark. The figure of Christ on the cross really dominates the composition, but there is something that feels unsettling to me. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, beyond the immediate religious iconography, I see a potent symbol ripe for reinterpretation within contemporary social discourse. Given the historical context of 1919, so soon after the First World War, how might this depiction of suffering resonate with broader societal anxieties about power, injustice, and the body politic? Does this artistic approach in any way question conventional representation? Editor: I never thought about it like that before. The sharp geometric patterns around the figure now feel almost like… cages. Do you think the artist was intentionally trying to critique societal structures through religious imagery? Curator: It’s plausible. The 'Ex libris' or bookplate format suggests personal meaning, but its public display at the Rijksmuseum elevates it to a broader cultural commentary. Think about the history of the cross as both a symbol of salvation and oppression, a point of contention in ongoing debates about colonialism, and whose interpretations hold sway within institutions of power. Who benefits from the propagation of this narrative? Editor: That is heavy. Seeing it that way is a game changer. I can begin to relate how historical perspectives can be shifted in a work of art to have renewed contemporary significance. Curator: Exactly. The personal is always political. And art provides a platform to both interrogate that relationship and explore the inherent complexities within it. What a powerful lesson, isn’t it? Editor: Yes, thank you for your insights!