Kandidaat en de rechter 1778 - 1785

Editor: This is "Kandidaat en de rechter," or "Candidate and the Judge," an engraving by Noach van der Meer the Younger, made sometime between 1778 and 1785. It strikes me as a very staged, almost theatrical scene. What's your take on it? Curator: It’s certainly composed like a stage set. What interests me most is what this image reveals about social mobility and the justice system of the Dutch Republic. We see a candidate, presumably seeking some form of official appointment, engaging with a judge. What do you notice about their interaction? Editor: The handshake seems…awkward, maybe reluctant on the judge's part. There's a power dynamic at play, wouldn't you say? Curator: Absolutely. The judge, positioned near the doorway, literally and figuratively holds the keys. This engraving highlights the patronage system and the inherent potential for corruption within 18th-century Dutch society. Do you think this print would be perceived as critical of that system? Editor: Possibly. Although without additional context, one might see it as merely depicting a common social exchange. I guess it depended on who was looking at it. Was this intended for a wide audience? Curator: Printmaking allowed for broader distribution compared to painting. The work, with its accessible imagery, might have sparked conversations about fairness and access to power among the burgeoning middle class. We need to think about prints like this as vital sources in shaping public opinion. Editor: So, art being used to question the status quo? That is so interesting! I always thought of art from this era as being purely decorative or celebratory. Curator: It is easy to forget how many roles images can fill, from simple decoration to political and social commentary. What is art, after all, but a reflection of society itself? Editor: I never really thought about it like that! Thank you for helping me seeing that!