Colijn in slecht weer 1923

Curator: Patricq Kroon, a Dutch artist, created this ink and pen drawing, titled "Colijn in slecht weer," around 1923. The scene captures a man seemingly caught in the rain. What strikes you about it at first glance? Editor: It has a rather stark and humorous quality, wouldn't you agree? The lines are jagged and forceful, really capturing a sense of chaos and discomfort with that bad weather of the title. The monochrome also heightens this stark, almost theatrical effect, highlighting the almost crude geometry of his figure. Curator: Absolutely, the rawness of the style lends itself to some pointed satire, if we examine some of the broader social and political circumstances in the Netherlands at the time. We see that the man, supposedly Colijn, is passing by two signs mentioning, on the one hand, political discourse (“Nolens Westerveld”), and, on the other hand, what looks to me as a call for national unity ("In Eenheid"). Colijn might not literally be experiencing "bad weather", but a complicated political moment, or possibly being presented as an enthusiast "vaderlander". Editor: That's insightful. Considering the forms, the repetition of angled lines suggests the pouring rain, but there’s a disjointedness about them, as though the composition itself reflects this state of disarray or unease you mention. Even the figure, in contrast with what he is doing, with those exaggerated features, seems not merely weather-beaten but purposefully caricatured, as he gestures as though nothing were the matter with the state of his clothes. Curator: The caricature really enhances that layer of social critique, pointing to debates over Dutch identity and political solidarity in a period of rapid change, wouldn't you agree? Is the figure simply ignoring political unrest or, actively seeking refuge in the nearest refuge he might find? Editor: Interesting that his umbrella lies discarded—abandoned in the entrance as a form or revolt—perhaps reinforcing an overall visual language about failure, chaos, or some sort of collapse of that nationalist pretense? Curator: Yes, a visual manifestation of societal tensions made evermore visible when he cannot keep a stance from "bad weather". Looking at it this way also tells us a lot about that transitional time in the history of Netherlands as he makes it visible through these stark forms. Editor: A great reminder of how careful formal analysis can reveal deeper thematic complexity and artistic intents!