200 Years of the Rijksmuseum: Emotional Faces (Part 2)

In this second part of 200 Years of the Rijksmuseum: Emotional Faces, the versatility of emotional expression takes center stage within various art movements, periods, and media. Through postage stamp images from the 16th to the 21st century, it becomes clear how emotions such as determination, distrust, playfulness, joy, and dynamism are depicted time and again, fitting their historical and cultural context. The selection shows how artists – from Lucas van Leyden and Rembrandt to Catrien Ariëns – employ emotion to tell stories, display power, visualize ideals, or capture everyday life. This creates a richly nuanced picture of emotion as a driving force within art history. Of this ten-stamp issue commemorating 200 Years of the Rijksmuseum (NVPH 1894–1903), eight images belong to Western art and two to non-Western art (pz. 3 Japan and pz. 4 India). Of the eight Western art images, pz. 5 belongs to Renaissance art with horizontal and vertical forms, pz. 8 and 11 to the dynamic Baroque style of the Golden Age, pz. 1, 2, 6, and 9 to the Rococo style with sweet pastel colors, and finally pz. 7 and 10 to contemporary art. Five varieties in technique, use of materials, and emotion. 7. 'Van Speyk considers whether to light a fuse in gunpowder' – Jacobus Schoenmaker Doyer (1792–1867), painting Imagined emotion: determination The young naval officer Jan van Speyk (1802–1831), commander of the Dutch gunboat No. 2, participated in the bombardment of Antwerp during the Belgian Uprising (1830–1839). On February 5, 1831, his ship ran aground on the Scheldt embankment and was in danger of being captured by Belgian insurgents. To prevent this, Van Speyk saw only one way out: to blow up the ship. In the cabin, Van Speyk faces an inner conflict: surrender or destruction. Just before his act, two crew members speak the words: “I’d rather blow myself up!” With this decision, Van Speyk took the lives not only of himself but also of his crew and a group of Belgians. National self-awareness, which had been severely damaged by the Belgian secession, received a boost from this heroic death. Romanticism, as a style period, emphasizes the intense and exceptional and places personal feelings emphatically in the foreground as an escape from daily reality. 8. 'David plays the harp for King Saul' – Lucas van Leyden (1494–1533), copper engraving. Depicted emotion: distrust. King Saul was regularly plagued by fits of rage. When David played the lyre, peace temporarily returned and the evil spirit departed. Saul, however, knew that David would be his successor, something he could not accept. During the performance, he attempted to kill David with a spear, but to no avail. David had already been secretly anointed king. In the background of the scene stand two servants, intensifying the tense atmosphere. 9. 'L'Amour menaçant' (Threatening Love) – Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1718–1791), sculpture. Imagined emotion: playful mischief. Falconet was the favorite sculptor of Madame de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV and patron of the Rococo. After seeing a mischievous terracotta Cupid figurine, she commissioned a similar work in white marble. The seated Cupid figure makes a silent 'shhh' gesture with his index finger while drawing an arrow from his quiver with the other hand. According to mythology, there are golden arrows that arouse love and lead arrows that kill it. The line of verse by Voltaire on the pedestal reinforces the threat: “Whoever you are, here is your master. He is, was, or will be.” 10. 'Document Nederland Zondag' – Catrien Ariëns (1997–1998), photography Imagined emotion: exuberant joy Whereas Sunday was formerly defined by religion, tradition, and social control, over time it has been filled with a wide variety of individual leisure activities. Photographer Catrien Ariëns captured this in a photo series realized under the auspices of the Rijksmuseum and NRC Handelsblad. The stamp shows two anonymous spectators at the edge of a football field in Almere. Their exuberant reaction to sporting achievements depicts collective joy. For copyright reasons, the original photograph, in which more people are visible, is not reproduced in full. 11. 'The Night Watch' (The Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch) – Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) The colorfully decked musketeer company of the Kloveniers prepares for a ceremonial procession through Amsterdam. Officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men are depicted in motion, creating a strong dynamic. Captain Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Van Ruytenburch step forward and appear to be walking towards the viewer. Light contrasts, overlapping actions, and details—such as the girl in yellow with a chicken, the drummer, and a barking dog—enhance the liveliness. The painting breathes the essence of the Baroque: movement, tension, and theatrical expressiveness. 18th-century expressions and those of the 21st century Not all of the artworks shown date from the Golden Age. Some were created earlier, others in the 18th century (1743, 1744, 1755, and 1757). Two stamp images even date from later periods: 1867 (pz. 7) and 1997–1998 (pz. 10). Whereas the 17th century is characterized by economic and cultural flourishing, the 18th century is known as a period of preservation and relative stagnation. Art reflects this difference: from dynamic Baroque to lighter, refined Rococo forms. Wealthy elites surrounded themselves with art that radiated a cheerful, elegant attitude to life. This outlook on life—enjoying accumulated wealth—shows parallels with contemporary consumer society, in which individual pleasure and abundance take center stage. Thus, the stamps connect not only centuries of art history but also timeless human emotions.