Arrival of St Nicholas by Gebroeders van Lier

Arrival of St Nicholas c. 1840 - 1850

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print, engraving

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boat

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narrative-art

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print

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old engraving style

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historical fashion

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romanticism

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19th century

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cityscape

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watercolour illustration

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genre-painting

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engraving

Dimensions: height 334 mm, width 423 mm

Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain

This lithograph by the Gebroeders van Lier pictures the ‘Arrival of St Nicholas’ and is characterized by a whimsical composition in shades of grey. Dominating the scene, St Nicholas sits astride a horse amidst a chaotic array of gifts, set against a backdrop of billowing clouds. The composition is both fanciful and complex. The artist plays with asymmetry, loading one side of the image with a larger mass of objects while balancing it with the figure of St. Nicholas and his gesture, using light and shadow to direct the viewer's eye. The overall structure destabilizes traditional perspective, creating a dreamlike quality. The semiotic system at play here is rich. Each object—the toys, books, and musical instruments—serves as a signifier within the cultural code of gift-giving and childhood celebration. This challenges the idea of a singular, fixed narrative, inviting a multitude of interpretations related to cultural memory and festive tradition. Ultimately, the structured chaos within the composition reflects the complex emotions and expectations associated with holidays, rendering this piece as a celebration of cultural discourse.

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Comments

rijksmuseum's Profile Picture
rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

Saint Nicholas is shown here as a frightening crusader, floating through the night sky on a winged horse with very small wings on his lower legs. Despite his rather intimidating appearance, this is a child-friendly saint merely handing out gifts; there is no allusion to the possibility of punishment for misbehaviour.

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