Studieblad met dierenkoppen c. 1850 - 1855

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this delightful drawing of animal heads, "Studieblad met dierenkoppen," which roughly translates to "Study Sheet with Animal Heads". It was crafted in the mid-19th century, sometime between 1850 and 1855, and the piece is attributed to Jacobus Cornelis Gaal. We're viewing an ink drawing now here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh, I love this! My immediate feeling is a quiet curiosity. There’s something so wonderfully honest about these animal portraits, they seem almost like quick sketches. I find the goat particularly striking with those magnificent horns and intense stare. What was the artist thinking? Curator: That's an insightful response. Given the tags for "portrait" and "realism," along with it being called a study, it might be interesting to consider 19th century societal concerns about accurate representation. Consider the broader themes present at this time about class structures and animal rights. In what ways could the portrayal of livestock as "portraits" change perspectives about rural economies and the roles that they held in society? Editor: Huh. Never thought of it that way. I just like the way the artist captured these animals and their different attitudes! The donkey seems a bit melancholy, and the sheep rather stoic and determined. Did artists normally create these study sheets to better themselves? How do you look at this kind of artwork nowadays, besides looking at socio-economic concerns of the period? Curator: Study sheets indeed served that very practical function, refining artistic skills. They also tell a tale of a burgeoning interest in "genre-painting" at the time, especially concerning the depiction of everyday life. By bringing the pastoral to the forefront of art, artists of this era inadvertently also spotlighted some of the inequalities present. So yes, I believe that we can gain valuable insight from this piece! Editor: True, this piece of artwork isn't *just* a collection of pretty animal faces. It’s about looking for stories—social stories, political stories, *personal* stories! Curator: Exactly. Thank you!