Fragment van een tafellaken met de inname van Rijssel door Eugenius van Savoye after 1708

Editor: So, here we have a "Fragment of a Tablecloth with the Capture of Rijssel by Eugene of Savoy," made after 1708. It's currently at the Rijksmuseum. Woven linen, can you imagine? There's something so wonderfully domestic about immortalizing a military victory on…table linen. It feels almost satirical. What am I missing? What stands out to you? Curator: Oh, the unexpectedness is exactly what grabs me too! It’s war, but make it *chic*! The Dutch Golden Age loved a good narrative, and even better, they loved to weave a good tale. Now, this isn’t just a tablecloth; it’s a declaration. Think about the wealthy merchant class. Where would they gather to show off their power? The dining room! Displaying scenes of Dutch victories… it's the ultimate "humble brag." Doesn't the detailed baroque design speak of their elevated taste? Editor: Absolutely! The way they incorporate narrative into something so functional and every-day, well, it’s just delightfully weird! It’s like they wanted their guests to chew on history. But who made this? Was it some war profiteer showing off, or a family proudly celebrating someone in their lineage? Curator: Possibly both! Consider the practicality: repeated use softens the edges of even the grandest victory. Each spill and stain becomes its own ephemeral palimpsest! This piece, born from triumph, enters daily life, accumulating personal histories on top of its monumental one. It’s not about who made it, or necessarily who used it. It is a historical fact experienced, even now, within an ordinary, physical context. It’s a reminder that history isn’t just dates and names, but things and stories. What do you take from that context? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it like that! War, history, luxury, and…lunch. It feels like I've gotten a lot more insight on baroque woven art in its context, I will be thinking about these details and the questions they inspire during the next visit! Curator: And there’s nothing quite like taking an aesthetic nibble, so to speak, of something beyond our first impressions, right?