Boomvaren c. 1816 - 1846

Curator: The very subtle tonalities create such a mysterious aura here. Editor: Indeed. We’re looking at "Boomvaren," or "Tree Fern," a pencil drawing from somewhere between 1816 and 1846 by Adrianus Johannes Bik, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. There is a ghostly quality to it. The main subject is clearly defined, but behind, we get a paler vision of another one. Curator: Yes, the repetition almost reminds me of a cultural understanding of how memory functions. The brighter object could stand for present experience, the faded one, for a long-gone memory or reflection that stays with us nonetheless. Editor: That's fascinating. It certainly resonates with the Romantic period's fascination with nature, but also with its use of imagery and representations of nature as containers for human emotion. Was this artist part of the institutionalized art world or an outsider exploring a scientific passion perhaps? Curator: Given the scientific, detailed rendering, this evokes associations with botanical illustration, and perhaps signals a relationship with Enlightenment thinking about scientific discovery that then transforms into Romanticism’s emotional and psychological inquiries. I mean, note the painstaking way he depicts the unfurling fronds. Editor: You are right. The drawing blends an interest in capturing the specifics of the fern while imbuing it with this almost ethereal presence. The lone plant set against that expansive negative space makes it symbolic. It begs questions about mankind's relationship to nature during a time of great societal transformation. Is the artist trying to depict our human imprint on the natural world, and perhaps our helplessness in front of its power? Curator: I also feel a certain tension stemming from the pencil as a medium itself, often used for sketches, studies. But here it's used for a detailed work in itself. I would almost see the artist portraying human existence with his fragile choice of material. Editor: Ultimately, this drawing invites us to see beyond just a botanical depiction. Bik captured not just the tree fern but its essence, hinting at broader concerns that shape the human condition, our fears and the questions we constantly ask about life on earth. Curator: Yes, the quiet observation speaks volumes across the ages. A meditation.