Golfer c. 1965 - 1980

Editor: We're looking at Aat Verhoog’s watercolor, "Golfer," made sometime between 1965 and 1980. It's got this vintage feel, almost like a slightly faded postcard. It also kind of has this whimsical quality, what strikes you most about this artwork? Curator: What immediately grabs me is the curious caricature. The figure, almost stiff in posture, seems to embody a very particular kind of…effort, perhaps even struggle. How does this imagery function in your understanding? Is it celebration or critique? Editor: It’s interesting you point that out! I initially saw the caricature as pure playfulness, but the stiffness does add a layer of potential critique, maybe on the culture of leisure itself. It also strikes me that the figure isn't looking at where he's trying to aim the ball! Curator: The visual element of obscured vision you've identified is crucial. Is it commentary on aspiration divorced from true skill or understanding, perhaps a critique of blindly following established practices without clear foresight? Editor: Possibly, or even just a commentary on how silly golf can look to the outsider. The colors, those muted greens and blues, contribute to the painting's calm exterior and obscure this critical quality. Curator: Indeed. Think how those colours would change the symbolic weight if Verhoog used striking reds or deep blacks. Now, if we interpret the overall composition, with the golf bag almost tipping over and the background details becoming so faint, do we still get a commentary? Editor: Yes, now that you bring it up, the golf bag makes me feel a sense of unease. All these symbolic elements point to something being off about this perfect image. I see it now. Thank you. Curator: The real beauty of this work lies in its ability to evoke a range of emotions, sparking multiple interpretive readings.