Bosrand 1939 - 2009

Editor: This is "Bosrand," a pencil drawing by Kees Stoop, created sometime between 1939 and 2009. The trees look like they are huddled together, and the texture almost feels like a memory itself. What do you see in this piece, looking at it with an eye for symbolism? Curator: It strikes me as a portrait of refuge. Trees have been symbols of protection, growth, and interconnectedness across cultures. Stoop renders them almost defensively, densely packed. Do you feel a sense of enclosure, a defined edge to this “bosrand”? Editor: Yes, it's like a screen or a barrier, the boundary between something wild and… nothingness? The blank paper beyond the trees seems infinite and a bit unsettling. Curator: Precisely! Consider how artists have historically depicted liminal spaces. Forests, as boundaries, represent transitions—leaving the known and entering the unknown, confronting primal fears, and seeking spiritual insight. What sort of "transition" or liminal space do you see suggested here? Editor: Well, the dates – 1939-2009 - make me think of the Second World War and the artist’s lifespan, so maybe it represents a personal search for refuge during turbulent times, perhaps even an inward journey for peace of mind, during and after the war. Curator: Indeed! And look how Stoop emphasizes the *form* of the trees. This isn't just about accurately depicting nature; it's about exploring the very essence of "forest-ness," a kind of Platonic ideal reflected in each individual tree. Form holds content! What emotional weight does that repeated, almost obsessive, rendering of form lend to the piece? Editor: It adds to that feeling of seeking solace; the repetition feels like a mantra, like the artist is trying to ground himself in the basic forms of nature. Curator: A wonderful observation. Stoop gives us not just a drawing, but a symbol of resilience, memory, and the enduring power of nature's forms to comfort and protect us. Editor: This has definitely given me a deeper appreciation for what's communicated through what seems like a very simple drawing. Thanks for sharing your perspective!