Maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1870 (plaat 17) 1870

Curator: So, here we have "Maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1870 (plaat 17)" or "Masquerade of Leiden Students, 1870 (plate 17)" by Gerardus Johannes Bos. It’s a drawing in pencil, a snapshot of student life, dating back to 1870 and on display at the Rijksmuseum. What leaps out at you first? Editor: The parade of symbols! Look at each figure holding what looks like shields or flags emblazoned with some imagery. And I am instantly struck by how formalized, almost ceremonial, the whole thing appears. It's like a history play frozen in time. Curator: Exactly! Each figure, meticulously rendered in pencil, showcases different attire and symbolic objects. It speaks to a highly theatrical interpretation of student culture. What do you make of the choice to frame it as academic art? Editor: I'm immediately considering it like a tarot deck – each of these student types holds different symbolism; they function like personified icons within the university ecosystem. I wonder what these shields signify in the context of 1870? What stories are hidden in these symbols and colours? Curator: Absolutely. The shield-like objects each feature distinct emblems, nodding, perhaps, to the university’s history, or perhaps these students had clubs with heraldic displays for different activities or schools. Editor: Indeed, there’s this beautiful interplay between performance and identity. You know, these aren’t just costumes; they’re visual metaphors. Curator: I find myself captivated by the colour scheme used; it creates this very whimsical, almost storybook quality to the drawing. Editor: Yes! There's such intention in each hue, bringing an element of life and history that almost makes you want to rewind time and view the spectacle in all its vivid glory! Curator: Well, I am walking away today with a new sense of respect and curiosity for the lives of these students. Bos gave a historical portrayal in the world of art, which allowed for so much storytelling through art! Editor: Yes! It’s funny how we so often forget about our past, until artworks like these reawaken and show us that we may be walking the same path others walked, in very different shoes and colors, perhaps, but somehow all the same.