Inname van de vesting Gorinchem op 17 september 1787 1788

Curator: What we're looking at here is "The capture of the city of Gorinchem on 17 September 1787" by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, made in 1788. It's an engraving, residing in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Thanks! It's pretty small, intricate though; very detailed lines describing a cityscape dominated by figures in military garb and I assume... their horses. I’m curious about its overall narrative. What should I be looking at? Curator: I think, with Chodowiecki, it’s about embracing the precision. It’s neoclassical; that obsession with detail is central. It’s tempting to focus on what happened *at* Gorinchem, right? Editor: Absolutely! My initial impulse is all "Who are these people? What's their story?". Curator: I wonder if it’s equally about what the capture *represents*. The end of the Patriot movement, perhaps? This image feels so…clinical almost, despite being about military action. Don't you think? The focus is more on the 'after', than the event itself, with everyone rigidly in place like statuettes. It suggests something beyond a mere battle. What *do* you make of that? Editor: So, instead of glory and action, Chodowiecki offers us, well, order restored, if I get what you’re suggesting… or maybe imposed. That’s actually fascinating; the ‘aftermath’ has such a different mood compared to heroic depictions of battle scenes. Curator: Precisely! It makes you wonder about his intentions. Was he a supporter, an observer, a critic, or all three simultaneously? Editor: I never thought about the narrative beyond face value but it looks like there is much more than meets the eye! Curator: That's art for you, never judge a piece by its artistic value.