Meetkunde 1760 - 1784

Editor: Here we have an engraving from the late 18th century titled "Meetkunde," created by an anonymous artist. It's rendered in ink on paper and currently held at the Rijksmuseum. I'm struck by the combination of geometric instruments intertwined with floral garlands. What can you tell me about this unusual pairing? Curator: Notice how the materials – ink and paper, simple yet essential – serve as the very foundation for conveying these contrasting ideas. The printmaking process itself, engraving, is meticulous and labour-intensive, mirroring the precise work of geometry. Think about the social context: the Enlightenment valued reason and order, represented by the geometric tools. But there was also a continued appreciation for the decorative, the natural world tamed and presented as a garland. How does the consumption of these seemingly opposing ideals highlight social tensions? Editor: So, the juxtaposition wasn't just aesthetic, but reflects broader societal values and maybe even contradictions? What kind of social statement were artisans trying to make with their creations? Curator: Exactly! The engraver uses a traditionally decorative format, but subverts it with symbols of mathematics and science. Was this about elevating craft or intellectual ideas through this interplay of nature, labor, and scientific pursuits? The availability of these prints for purchase also raises questions. Who could afford these? What messages were being disseminated, and to whom? Editor: It's interesting how looking closely at the materials and process makes you consider who had access to these images, both to produce and consume them, influencing their understanding of knowledge and aesthetics. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Thinking materially shifts our focus to the very hands and contexts that shaped this "Meetkunde", and the meanings it held for those who encountered it.