Leengerecht te Zutphen, 1764 1764 - 1766

Editor: This is Simon Fokke's "Leengerecht te Zutphen, 1764," created between 1764 and 1766. It's an etching, a print showing a gathering of people outside a rather grand building. The scene has a formal feel, almost staged. I'm curious, what story does this image tell you, given its historical context? Curator: This print offers a fascinating glimpse into the public performance of justice in 18th-century Zutphen. The 'Leengerichte' or feudal court, was a very public demonstration of power, adhering to traditions, social hierarchy, and local governance. It represents not just the application of law, but also the theatrical display of authority within the community. The architecture serves as a backdrop emphasizing that legal traditions happen with the endorsement of political stability. Have you noticed where the judge's bench is situated in relation to the public? Editor: It's in the center, but also beneath a tree, slightly removed from the grand building in the background. It feels deliberately placed to suggest the people have a natural and lawful right. Curator: Exactly. Fokke’s print engages in the visual politics of imagery by positioning this ritual between nature and societal edifice. Public space turns into a stage. This raises questions about whose perspectives were being documented, for what reason, and who was omitted? What do you notice about the figures on the edge of the frame versus those in the centre? Editor: That's interesting. The composition really highlights the division, both those involved in the main proceedings and bystanders merely observing. The way Fokke positioned everything gives us a snapshot of not just the court but the broader social dynamics at play. I'd never considered how carefully a print like this can shape our understanding. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward depictions of events are constructed narratives, deeply intertwined with power structures.