Twee geopende oesters 1824

Editor: Here we have Jean Bernard's "Two Opened Oysters," a pencil drawing from 1824 housed in the Rijksmuseum. It's so simple, almost stark in its realism. What's your take on it? Curator: I find it fascinating that Bernard chose oysters as a subject. Still life painting and drawing was becoming quite popular, solidifying the wealth and possessions of the Dutch middle class and aristocracy in their homes. Oysters, though, take on a slightly different nuance, don't you think? Editor: I suppose so, yes. How would you say? Curator: Well, the Dutch Golden Age had come and gone, leaving room for a more subdued period, one which also engaged more actively with a commercial lifestyle in which not everything was so easy. A drawing of oysters has more… complexity to it, reminding the viewer of transience but also possibility. And a humble pencil drawing, rather than an oil painting, speaks to changing tastes and perhaps more limited wealth. Do you agree? Editor: Yes, that makes a lot of sense. The starkness almost feels deliberate, a commentary, even if subtle, on economic shifts and consumer culture through imagery. Is that why they chose it to be on display at the Rijksmuseum, possibly? Curator: I think the Rijksmuseum displays it as a peek into not just artistic technique but cultural shifts, that perhaps speak volumes without screaming. What have you learned looking at it? Editor: That even seemingly simple drawings can hold layers of historical meaning. I never would have considered oysters in relation to broader societal trends. Thanks! Curator: Likewise. It is useful for me to also get opinions from your point of view as an art student, rather than only from curators.