Begrafenisceremonie bij de Germanen 1684

Curator: Standing here at the Rijksmuseum, we are observing "Funeral Ceremony of the Germans," an engraving by Joseph Mulder, dating back to 1684. Editor: Wow, what a scene! It feels...chaotic, theatrical almost. Like a still from some epic, slightly unhinged play. Is that a burning tower with bodies on top? Curator: Precisely. Mulder depicts a Germanic funeral ritual. The figures, while stylized, are intended to convey the gravity and perceived "barbarity" of ancient Germanic customs, as seen through a 17th-century lens. We must remember such works often tell us more about the anxieties of the artist's time than accurate depictions of the past. Editor: Barbarity is definitely the vibe! But there’s also something grand and imposing. The composition is jam-packed: there are crowds, pyres, human sacrifices, I am getting some Wagnerian opera vibe! Curator: Absolutely. The engraving emulates the Baroque fascination with antiquity—in this case, not classical antiquity but rather the "noble savage" notion applied to Germanic tribes. This interest ties into larger political and social narratives of the era, particularly related to emerging national identities. Note also the way the "savage" is displayed as a form of warning towards civilized viewers, an act of othering the indigenous in favour of supporting colonist viewpoints. Editor: I get it. So it's not just history, it's also commentary? It’s also important that people do understand this to try to distance themselves from racist ways of viewing others? Curator: Indeed. Engravings such as these often circulated as illustrations in historical texts, popularizing particular interpretations of the past, shaped, let's be real, by social and political exigencies and the economic background which sponsors such propaganda! Editor: It’s wild to think that images like this, created with such skill and detail, were actually shaping people's perceptions of an entire culture. A bit scary, but also…powerfully thought-provoking, now! Thank you. Curator: A potent reminder of the power of images and narratives to shape historical understanding and influence social dynamics, don’t you think?