Kelsterbach Castle near Höchst am Main 1642 - 1644

Editor: Here we have Wenceslaus Hollar's "Kelsterbach Castle near Höchst am Main," an etching dating back to the early 1640s. It's so detailed, almost like a photograph. The way the castle looms in the distance creates such a sense of scale. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: Well, it makes me think of a stage set, doesn't it? This little drama playing out on the river, with the castle as the backdrop. The boat overflowing with figures - are they leaving or arriving? And the way Hollar captures the light, it feels like a specific time of day. It's history as theater, if you like. I wonder what story they tell themselves as they make the journey? Editor: History as theater, I like that. The boat is so crowded! It almost feels comical in contrast to the serious castle in the background. Do you think that was intentional? Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps it simply reflects the reality of travel at the time, a crowded jostle for position. But you're right, the contrast is striking. It gives the castle an air of solemnity, as if it's observing the human hustle and bustle with detached amusement. Almost as though Hollar is contrasting the ephemeral lives of these people in the boat against the enduring presence of power as embodied in the castle. It’s also a fantastic representation of space, right? The detailed foreground and that soft recession into the distance? Editor: Absolutely. And seeing the landscape etched with such care... I find myself more curious about this period than I was five minutes ago. Thanks for that! Curator: The pleasure is all mine! It is these small peeks into another's experience, real or constructed, that can expand the most. It’s nice when one considers the other’s interiority through external reference.