Surimono reflect cultural and social facets of urban life in late Edo period Japan. Thus far, most surimono research was focused on the art historic qualities of the material, regularly also taking... Show moreSurimono reflect cultural and social facets of urban life in late Edo period Japan. Thus far, most surimono research was focused on the art historic qualities of the material, regularly also taking the interplay between poetry and image into account. The research presented here places surimono in a greater perspective by including the literary antecedents of the content, the cultural background of the kyōka world and the social networks of poets.Fundamental to the aim of this research is to expose how kyōka provided spheres where people with a cultural interest could join in a literary pursuit that allowed them to fully incorporate their appreciation for and knowledge of the classics. I argue that surimono and kyōka books are deeply rooted in a literary tradition and aimed at an audience of amateur poets who enjoyed honing their wit and culture, creating a world of their own with self-imposed regulations. Despite the initial mocking stance towards the classics seen in early stages of the renewed kyōka popularity in Edo, I contend that surimono, well as other kyōka related materials, show a specific rediscovery and reception of a literary past, which coincides with a period of cultural self-identification in Edo society. Show less
The Dutch Atlanticist Ernst van der Beugel (1918-2004) was a prominent figure in Cold War transatlantic relations for over four decades. As a modern kind of ‘renaissance man’, he was active in... Show moreThe Dutch Atlanticist Ernst van der Beugel (1918-2004) was a prominent figure in Cold War transatlantic relations for over four decades. As a modern kind of ‘renaissance man’, he was active in government, politics, the worlds of business and finance as well as academia. After a career with the Dutch government on the frontlines of the Marshall Plan, European integration and transatlantic politics, he switched to a more freestyle approach to diplomacy as a private citizen, most notably through his longtime leadership of the illustrious Bilderberg Meetings and his ties to the European and American foreign policy establishments. While his kaleidoscopic career offers a unique window upon the unofficial dimension of Cold War transatlantic relations, traditional state-centered approaches to diplomatic history have so far prevented a full assessment of his many roles in both formal and informal diplomatic networks. By looking at Ernst van der Beugel through the lens of New Diplomatic History, which emphasizes the role of diplomatic actors and the unofficial dimensions of diplomacy, this dissertation provides an alternative perspective on Cold War transatlantic relations by analyzing Ernst van der Beugel’s diplomatic role through formal and informal channels, both as a government representative and as an unofficial diplomat. Show less
This study examines the provenance of the mineralogy and palaeontology collections of Teylers Museum in Haarlem. These objects, combined with the thousands of handwritten labels that have been... Show moreThis study examines the provenance of the mineralogy and palaeontology collections of Teylers Museum in Haarlem. These objects, combined with the thousands of handwritten labels that have been preserved, most of which date from the 18th century, are silent witnesses to a largely forgotten world of collecting practices, classifications, academic networks, commercial practices, debates on the nature of fossils and the formation of the earth’s crust, and much more besides. My research is an attempt to reveal the world behind these objects, all of which were once collected for Teylers Museum by the first Director Martinus van Marum (1750-1837). It seeks to give the collection back its voice. Combining the financial records of the Teylers Foundation with the minutes of meetings held by the directors and Teylers’s Second Society, as well as Van Marum’s travel journals, written records of public lectures, correspondence, and other manuscripts made it possible to reconstruct his purchases and to match labels to objects. When the entirety of Van Marum’s geological endeavours is surveyed, he emerges as more of a follower of scientific developments than a knowledge producer. He published very few articles in this field, and the ideas he presented in them were seldom new and sometimes misconceived. His activities in geology were not on a par with his great achievements in physics and chemistry. However, by virtue of his positions in the Teylers Foundation and the Holland Society of Sciences, as well as his publications on plant physiology and static electricity, he was regarded as one of the most influential scientists of his day. Show less
