De pennelikkers 1885

Curator: Here we have Pieter de Josselin de Jong’s "De pennelikkers," an 1885 drawing in ink and pencil currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial feeling is one of intense focus. There's a remarkable stillness, particularly given that the image is created through such energetic linework. Curator: It's an apt description; 'pennelikkers' translates roughly to 'pen pushers' or 'scribblers.' This image isn't just a genre scene; it's a cultural artifact showing clerks or administrators deeply engaged in their work. Do you notice any recurrent forms or techniques here? Editor: Certainly, the artist uses hatching to render the depth, a classical compositional trick for sure. However, note the almost caricature-like features; elongated noses, exaggerated brows, all rendered in a somewhat agitated, almost vibrating web of lines. Are we supposed to interpret the image with realism? Curator: It is a realistic snapshot in that it captures a specific social type, the bureaucratic worker, almost veristically. But the artist also imbued these figures with subtle signs. Note how light floods the drawing only on one figure; his hand touches what resembles an ink-well and lamp; we almost could read this in allegorical terms about intellect versus simple-minded work? Editor: Fascinating perspective. To me, that central, illuminated figure is essential, like a lynchpin for the whole composition; around that person are a group of people sketched without detail, which invites speculation about their importance. Is it about creating a focus on his activity versus generalized, less essential members? The dark shades cast a mysterious look at his work activity! Curator: These visual devices also speak to larger questions of status, ambition, and even the anxiety of modern office environments as the artist was perhaps seeing with his own eyes. Editor: Well, I am glad we took some time to examine these features more deeply. A seemingly simple, somewhat realist piece, reveals quite an engagement. Curator: Exactly. And it underlines the value of exploring cultural themes even within realist compositions. There's often much more to discover when we let ourselves read beneath the immediate surface.