Vischpoort te Elburg Possibly 1889

Curator: We're looking at "Vischpoort te Elburg," likely from 1889, a cityscape held here at the Rijksmuseum. Elias Stark rendered this scene using etching techniques. What do you make of it? Editor: There's a certain stillness. Like a frozen moment in time. The light is muted, and the etching...it gives everything this aged quality. It's quiet, almost melancholic. Curator: That melancholic mood might be tied to how etching functioned within the art market of the late 19th century. Mass-produced prints made art accessible, challenging traditional ideas about uniqueness and value, bringing new appreciation of old and everyday buildings to collectors of modest means. Editor: It’s amazing the level of detail. You see every brick, every windowpane...each individual leaf on the trees. But it isn’t just photorealistic. It’s got atmosphere. I keep imagining stories taking place in that very spot. People walking through the gate centuries ago, their lives, their worries. The way the city gate rises in the centre evokes stories of merchants, travellers, possibly besieged townfolk. Curator: And considering Stark's technique, each print pulled would have slight variations, nuances affected by the artist’s hand and the materials involved. We see Stark's labor made visible with each pull, contributing to its aesthetic and historical significance. This also encouraged repeat buyers of varying price ranges and detail level, Editor: I love the human touch embedded in what feels like the early days of mass production. It speaks of a moment when craft met technology, blurring boundaries. Did you say the date was around 1889? It's right at the turning point. So, seeing this print as a kind of artefact... Curator: Absolutely. Each line speaks to labor practices and economies around art in the 19th century. It’s about how these buildings are brought from daily experience to valuable collectibles using material practices that are still resonant today. Editor: This has certainly reframed how I understand both the print, the depicted Vischpoort and Stark's world at large. The scene comes to life even more through the details we discussed. Thanks for that.