Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
CO₂ Emissions: Approximately 45,000 tons over the past 10 years.
Focus: Holding Leaders and Institutions Accountable
Counterpart: Kara Walker – Fons Americanus
Context & Connection
Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642) is a masterpiece of leadership and collective effort. Depicting the Amsterdam civic guard, the painting celebrates community, order, and shared responsibility. Yet beneath its grandeur lies a reflection of power and hierarchy—those at the center of the work dominate, while others recede into shadow. It reminds us of the impact and visibility of leadership and the consequences of those who act—or fail to act.
Kara Walker’s Fons Americanus (2019) serves as a striking counterpoint. Installed in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern, Walker’s monumental fountain is a critical reimagining of colonial monuments. Inspired by the Victoria Memorial in London, it confronts the exploitation and violence of empire—human and environmental costs perpetuated by leaders and systems of power. The cascading water becomes a metaphor for both life and loss, a stark reminder of how history’s decisions continue to shape present-day inequalities, environmental harm, and the erosion of justice.
Statement
"Rembrandt’s The Night Watch celebrates leadership, community, and shared purpose. Its dynamic composition highlights the power of those at the forefront, while others fade into shadow. Yet, leadership carries responsibility—not just for those within a frame, but for the systems they create and sustain.
Kara Walker’s Fons Americanus confronts this legacy. In a powerful critique of colonialism, Walker’s monumental fountain reveals the hidden costs of empire—human exploitation, environmental destruction, and systemic inequality. The water flowing through Walker’s sculpture serves as both a symbol of life and a memorial to loss, demanding that leaders acknowledge their accountability.
Chosen in alignment with Greta Thunberg’s call for accountability from companies and world leaders, this pairing underscores a critical truth: the decisions of those in power ripple across generations. Leadership must no longer serve systems of harm, but instead create pathways to a just and sustainable future."
Why This Works
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Power, Leadership, and Responsibility
- The Night Watch: A celebration of leadership and collective effort, but also a reflection of hierarchy and visibility.
- Fons Americanus: A critical examination of leadership’s failure to account for exploitation and harm, highlighting systemic consequences.
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Visual and Symbolic Contrast
- Rembrandt: A dynamic yet celebratory representation of leadership and community.
- Walker: A monumental critique, turning water into a symbol of both vitality and colonial trauma.
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Greta’s Vision
- Greta Thunberg demands that leaders—corporate and political—take responsibility for their decisions. The pairing of these works challenges us to rethink leadership as a force for justice, equity, and sustainability.
Exhibition Context
- The Night Watch: A masterful portrayal of leadership and collective effort, yet steeped in power dynamics and visibility.
- Fons Americanus: A contemporary reckoning with the exploitation and harm caused by unchecked leadership and systemic inequality.
- Greta’s Message: True leadership means accountability—acknowledging the past and creating a future that is just, equitable, and sustainable.