Het nieuw vermakelyk spel / Genaamd de Jood 1818 - 1845

Curator: Welcome. We're looking at "Het nieuw vermakelyk spel / Genaamd de Jood," or "The New Amusing Game / Called the Jew," a fascinating engraving created between 1818 and 1845 by Jan Oortman Senior. It’s currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The print features ink on graphic art. Editor: My immediate reaction? This is unsettling. The title is stark, of course, and the figure in the center seems trapped inside that numbered box. A potent and clearly problematic visual metaphor jumps out immediately, associating Judaism with entrapment and perhaps manipulation through chance, symbolized by the dice. Curator: Absolutely. It’s critical to understand this print within its historical context. We're talking about a period where deeply ingrained antisemitism pervaded European society. This print, unfortunately, reflects that prevailing sentiment. It presents a game, framing Jewish identity through the lens of amusement and control. Editor: The numbers ringing the central image are interesting, almost like a clock face. It feels ritualistic. Are these symbolic? Curator: It’s thought the numbers correspond to movements or actions within the game itself. It mimics familiar childhood games with the aim of turning antisemitic beliefs into entertainment that, especially given the era, would normalize harmful prejudices through casual play. Editor: The central figure is surrounded by what appears to be stage curtains, with dramatic lighting overhead. It definitely reinforces this sense of a spectacle being made of the figure inside the box, objectifying the subject for viewers' amusement. What kind of message about Jewish people does the iconography surrounding game promote? Curator: These seemingly harmless objects subtly contribute to a distorted perception. It reinforces discriminatory ideologies by portraying individuals based on dangerous stereotypes. Editor: Looking closer, I see how much detail Oortman includes to emphasize a twisted, carnival-like atmosphere. From the garland beneath the box to the faux curtain tassels, all the little symbolic details become more jarring as the composition takes shape. Curator: This piece provides insight into the period's mindset and underscores the need to confront such historical representations critically. It serves as a somber reminder of the dangers of normalized bigotry and stereotypes. Editor: Examining how symbols and casual pastimes become implicated in this dehumanization reminds us that historical symbols always carry the power to inflict ongoing damage when left unchecked.