Lijkstatie van Jacob Mossel, Governeur-Generaal te Batavia, 1761 1762

Editor: Here we have "Lijkstatie van Jacob Mossel, Governeur-Generaal te Batavia, 1761," an engraving created in 1762. The artist is anonymous, and it’s part of the Rijksmuseum collection. What strikes me is its almost diagrammatic presentation – so ordered and linear. What do you make of this visual arrangement? Curator: Indeed. Its graphic clarity offers a rigorous formal analysis. The composition meticulously layers horizontal bands of figures and vehicles, each exhibiting a high degree of internal symmetry. Note the almost mathematical precision with which each element relates to the next, an interplay of line and form to describe this event. Editor: I see what you mean. The repetitive nature of the figures and carriages almost flattens the image, reducing depth. Is that a deliberate effect? Curator: Precisely. The artist minimizes spatial depth, prioritizing the visual inventory. Consider how the sharp lines defining each figure negate volume in favor of graphic representation. We may note that each mark becomes equal within the plane and overall optical texture of the print. Are you perceiving how the relationships are made without relying on shadow, volume, light and perspective? Editor: Yes! So, the lines aren't just describing something; they are constructing a very particular kind of visual experience – one of flattened space and ordered forms. It is not necessarily a visual report of depth. It becomes an arrangement and relationship with the surface in terms of light and shadow? Curator: A cogent observation. The emphasis is on structure and form rather than illusionistic space. The artist guides the eye through a measured cadence of visual information. We observe not a singular, vanishing-point perspective, but rather, a laterally extended and flattened visual account. Editor: So, through line and form, the artist directs our gaze. It's a fascinating exercise in controlled composition! Curator: Indeed, it makes it all the more intriguing and memorable as an image.