Zwijnskop 1882

Editor: This is *Zwijnskop*, or "Boar's Head," by B.H. van Havre, created in 1882 using watercolor on paper. The somber palette gives it a somewhat haunting quality. What do you make of this illustration? Curator: Haunting indeed! I see a moment captured, a fleeting glimpse of something wild and, perhaps, already gone. Look closely at how van Havre uses watercolor; it’s almost as if he's trying to evoke the creature's very essence rather than creating a perfect representation. Doesn’t the blurring around the edges feel like a memory fading? Does this boar feel alive or already a trophy? Editor: It definitely feels more like a study, something between scientific illustration and art. Almost…pre-photography. Curator: Exactly! There's a vulnerability to it. It reminds us that even studies have a life of their own. Do you find yourself drawn to the detail or to the overall impression? I keep going back and forth. Editor: I think the impression; it has a certain…gravitas. It makes you think about nature, death, and art. Thanks, I really learned something today! Curator: Me too! Every artwork is a journey, wouldn’t you say? "Zwijnskop" makes me ponder our relationship with the natural world and how we choose to capture – and consume – it. Until next time.