Ontleend uit de ongewijde geschiedenis 1850 - 1881

Curator: This print, “Ontleend uit de ongewijde geschiedenis” by Dirk Noothoven van Goor, likely produced between 1850 and 1881, gives us a lot to unpack. Engravings like these, mass produced, tell us something about the commodification of historical narratives for popular consumption. Editor: That's interesting! It almost feels like an early form of visual storytelling. What do you see in this piece that really resonates with the idea of materiality and consumption? Curator: Look closely at the medium: an engraving, designed for widespread reproduction. It's not a unique, handcrafted piece meant for an elite patron. The image depicts proverbs; in one, the Trojan Horse; the print itself embodies a similar Trojan horse – packaging up culture for a broader audience. The materials – the paper, the ink – their relative cheapness facilitated the spread of these ideas. Think about who consumed these and how they integrated these visuals into their lives. What class of people do you suppose had access to magazines like these? Editor: Hmm, probably not the very poorest, but perhaps the emerging middle class, hungry for knowledge and culture, but perhaps not wealthy enough to buy original art? Curator: Exactly! The availability and the content reinforce existing societal structures, embedding these stories, and their interpretations, into a developing middle class. So the material production informs its cultural impact. The relatively easy access also underscores some kind of popular demand. Does it change the way you see it now? Editor: Definitely. It's no longer just an illustration of stories, but a tangible object connecting to broader economic and cultural currents of the time. Curator: Precisely! It shows how even seemingly straightforward historical depictions are bound by the material conditions of their creation and consumption.