Optocht door de rederijkerskamer De Pellicaen (Trou moet blycken) van Haarlem (tweede deel), 1607 1607

Editor: This is a print from 1607 entitled "Procession of the Chamber of Rhetoric De Pellicaen (Trou moet blycken) of Haarlem (second part)." It's quite detailed; I see lots of figures in costume. It looks almost like a film strip. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Ah, yes, a slice of history, almost a frozen parade! It tickles my imagination – I see a group of people strolling, lost in their own worlds and yet united by this shared procession. What were they talking about, I wonder? This isn’t just a depiction of figures; it’s a whisper of the past. The engraving is meticulous. See how each face carries its own weight, its own story? Do you get a sense of their social standing, of their place in Haarlem's tapestry? Editor: I do, now that you point it out. I noticed the detail in their clothing. It is amazing that the artist did that with engraving and etching. Is the “chamber of rhetoric” significant? Curator: Oh, absolutely! Think of them as theatre troupes with a civic mission. It was the Dutch Golden Age so civic life *was* theater, a constant pageant of virtue and commerce. This procession celebrates civic pride. Look closer; notice any repeated images? Editor: Well, everyone has similar hats... maybe showing they are part of a society or group? Curator: Exactly. Shared identity and commitment. Beautifully observed in print, don't you think? This work brings history to life. It makes you wonder about their everyday concerns. Editor: This has really opened my eyes to how much I can learn from a single print. Thank you! Curator: And thank you! A work only truly lives when others engage with it! It makes my work feel alive and part of a continuing narrative.