In 't Jaar 754 c. 1789 - 1810

Editor: Here we have a drawing called "In 't Jaar 754," made around 1789-1810 by an anonymous artist. It’s done with pen and ink. There's definitely a somber mood – you have figures tearing down what looks like an altar. What do you make of this historical scene? Curator: Oh, a compelling dance with history! What strikes me is the tension between destruction and… well, is it progress? Notice the meticulous detail despite the anonymous hand; you sense the artist wrestling with something significant. The year 754—do you know what occurred? It coincides with the martyrdom of St. Boniface. Editor: Saint Boniface? I’m not familiar. Curator: Boniface, an English missionary, attempted to convert Frisians. They…weren’t fans, shall we say. What’s interesting here is that Romanticism often idealised the past, but this feels more critical. Are we seeing a straightforward condemnation of paganism being destroyed, or perhaps a lament for something lost? Look at the expressions... or rather the *lack* of expression on the faces of the men doing the destroying. There's a brutal efficiency. It makes you wonder what the artist really thought about civilization and conversion. Editor: That's a point—you expect celebratory zeal, but there's none. This piece isn't a simple depiction of history; it asks how we judge the past, right? Curator: Precisely. And remember, history isn't a stage—it's more like a kaleidoscope. Each turn reveals a new pattern, doesn't it? What does it reveal to you? Editor: Well, I came in thinking "historical demolition," but now I’m pondering the human cost, or the cultural one at least, even when progress seems inevitable. It’s a reminder that every wrecking ball swings both ways. Curator: Indeed, it does, and with unpredictable echoes, which is exactly why we keep looking.