Gezicht op Kasteel Keppel 1827

Editor: So, this is "Gezicht op Kasteel Keppel," an engraving from 1827 by an anonymous artist here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s a rather serene landscape, all soft lines and gentle shading. What strikes me is how the castle almost seems secondary to the idyllic scene in the foreground. How do you interpret this work, especially considering the social context of its time? Curator: The placement is fascinating, isn’t it? At first glance, it is merely a peaceful, upper-class existence. However, in 1827, Romanticism was in full swing, and the fascination with ruins, the sublime, and the power of nature was often used as a means to comment on the existing social and political order. Editor: So, are you saying it could be more than just a pretty picture of a castle? Curator: Precisely! The artist seems to be framing the castle *through* the lens of the working class. The leisurely scene with the boaters creates a very gendered idea of peace. The question arises as to *whose* peace is on display and *whose* labor subsidizes this tranquility. The choice to make an engraving, which can be widely reproduced, further amplifies these considerations. Does that shift your understanding? Editor: Absolutely! It's not just a depiction of the wealthy; it's a statement on the system that supports them, and the labour of the people in the foreground. Curator: It's crucial to consider the intersections of class, labour, and artistic expression during this period, and the ways artists subtly engaged with them in their work. Editor: This really does add a whole new layer of understanding to the piece. It's not just about the pretty landscape but about the unseen stories within it. I will consider it through that lens from now on. Curator: Excellent! Art becomes truly engaging when we challenge its face value, question its foundations, and ask who is absent from the story.