Studieblad met schaap c. 1781 - 1822

Curator: Take a look at this study sheet, entitled "Studieblad met schaap" by Hermanus Fock. It's believed to have been created sometime between 1781 and 1822. A pencil drawing currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The texture created by the pencil work is immediately striking; almost fuzzy in parts. A somber sketch that exudes a quiet simplicity despite its layers of imagery. Curator: Indeed. Sheep motifs carry significant weight in art history. Their connection with Christian iconography, as symbols of innocence, purity and sacrifice, is a lasting cultural association. Though within the piece itself there are also further portrait elements: what seems to be an arm in the top register and an image of a face wearing a hat. Editor: I wonder about that face… the hat is reminiscent of a shepherdess, possibly linking the figure to bucolic themes prevalent at the time, creating this nostalgic lens on an idealized rural existence. Was the figure of the sheep somehow seen as offering an empathetic mirroring with a human sitter? Curator: It’s intriguing to contemplate how Fock utilized animals to convey sentiments or project values prevalent within 18th and early 19th-century society. Art from this era served as didactic instruments, subtly shaping opinions and molding societal consciousness regarding agrarian life. The display of this particular pencil study is also key here – museums offer insight into artists’ processes, celebrating not only polished, final works but also exploratory studies like this one. Editor: The layering is compelling. Notice how these motifs are only partially realized: they remain suggestive. It adds a haunting, transient character to it. One could easily see this rendering as being dreamlike. Curator: Dreams, collective myths… Absolutely. This intersection illuminates the fascinating relationship between artists and society: artists give form to the symbolic languages circulating within a society and vice versa. Editor: Yes! We interpret art with shared narratives. Ultimately, this little study reflects back aspects of ourselves that are sometimes very, very old. Curator: Precisely. Thank you for lending that perspective to Hermanus Fock's thoughtful sketching practice. Hopefully listeners now have an enhanced insight into his world and legacy.