Plattegrond van Dendermonde, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

Editor: So, here we have a plan of Dendermonde from around 1702, a drawing, really more like a print, by an anonymous artist, over at the Rijksmuseum. It's on paper with ink. It has a somewhat cold feeling; all those straight lines and precise angles give it a really removed, almost alien quality, like looking at the plans for someone else's life! What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Ah, Dendermonde! Imagine trying to navigate life with such rigid lines. What grips me is the almost performative aspect of these defensive town plans. It is history painting with a twist, literally on a map. Each stroke feels both practical and a tad...theatrical. What story do you think the artist is trying to tell? Is it triumph, defense, or something else? Editor: That's interesting! I was so focused on the visual rigidity. "Theatrical" makes me rethink the emotional context. The little annotations must mean something, don't you think? Like they want the audience to feel how secure the town is, how organized? Curator: Absolutely! The details serve the larger narrative of control. And the lines and precise renderings serve to drive this home. Do you see any sign of vulnerability here, or is it all strength projected? Editor: Hmm, I suppose the very presence of "Inundation" labeled all around hints at weakness...the town had to flood itself to defend itself! Curator: Exactly. History whispering its little ironies, framed as baroque bravado. I am happy that you saw this nuance too! That is what speaks to me: the plan intended for strategic might unwittingly suggesting fragility. Editor: I definitely see the dramatic irony now. I came in thinking this was just a stiff historical document and I’m leaving seeing a narrative loaded with these more interesting nuances and emotions. Thank you! Curator: Anytime. Always look for the off-key note in the symphony of the past. It's often the most telling.