Passant van de epauletten van Van Speyk Possibly 1831 - 1835

Editor: So, here we have 'Passant van de epauletten van Van Speyk', an intriguing artwork of mixed media that possibly dates back to between 1831 and 1835. It appears to be a fragment, maybe from a uniform, presented almost like a relic. It's quite a somber, evocative piece, even though it is such a small thing. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a potent symbol of sacrifice and national identity, carefully preserved. This fragment is all that’s left of a greater event. Consider how textiles, in particular, carry so much information. We associate the epaulette with military rank and authority. Van Speyk was a Dutch naval officer who famously blew up his own ship to prevent it from falling into Belgian hands during the Belgian Revolution. What do you think this relic communicates to the present? Editor: That act of blowing up the ship to keep it from the enemy suggests patriotism and perhaps even self-destruction. So this is a symbol of national pride but also a symbol of death? Curator: Precisely. And who chose to save this specific piece? The choice becomes important. Preserving fragments, especially after violent events, helps societies negotiate complicated meanings. The residue of destruction often gains power as it connects viewers to both the event itself, and the feelings surrounding that event. I’d be curious about its chain of custody: Who kept it, and why? How has the object accrued value? Editor: So the value isn't necessarily in the object itself, but what it represents and the cultural weight it carries through time. Curator: Exactly. Its very existence provokes us to remember, and, potentially, to re-evaluate what that memory means to us now. Thank you for highlighting this, it enriches our understanding! Editor: It's fascinating to think about objects speaking to us in this way, beyond their physical presence.