Het alarmgeroep 1876 - 1895

Curator: This mixed media piece by Albert Quantin, created between 1876 and 1895, is titled "Het alarmgeroep". The title translates to “The Alarm Call.” Editor: It certainly does feel like a call to action. The frantic energy leaps right off the surface. I'm struck by the arrangement of panels, like a page ripped from an adventure magazine. Curator: Precisely. Quantin used this almost comic strip style to disseminate social narratives. This piece, in particular, likely circulated as a print, intended to quickly convey a story and influence public sentiment regarding themes such as community, defence, and vigilance. The print medium makes the imagery very accessible to the public, helping inform social perception. Editor: The formal qualities also reinforce the narrative urgency. Notice how Quantin employs watercolour for a somewhat hazy effect, especially in those nighttime scenes. It almost romanticizes what otherwise appears a coarse moment of village defence. He is, moreover, pushing impressionistic strategies here for the rapid capture of these dramatic instances in time. Curator: The lack of a central focus pushes viewers to engage with the series of events collectively. One could infer this approach suggests a more communal rather than individualized sense of bravery. Editor: I agree. But even on its own terms, the dynamic diagonals in the compositions contribute a real visual tension. It avoids stasis in every corner; our eyes simply never stop moving across the surface! Curator: Considering the piece's historical setting, it prompts thinking about national identity. How were citizens urged to visualize solidarity in times of unease? This is a work very much entrenched in building political morale. Editor: Right, and beyond its propaganda value, there is simply the formal play of light and shadow, used so artfully. It’s that dramatic, staged feel—akin to theatrical lighting, adding a layer of artificiality to the scene, which, for me, only heightens its impact as an aesthetic experience. Curator: Ultimately, viewing "Het alarmgeroep" delivers an intriguing glimpse into how visual narratives shaped collective sentiments, especially during periods of social transformation and evolving print culture. Editor: And as a masterclass in the dynamics and storytelling achieved through form, Quantin offers an exemplary study in the integration of structure and drama!