De drie konijntjes en de geit 1875 - 1903

Curator: Welcome. We’re looking at “The Three Rabbits and the Goat” by Jan de Haan, dating from between 1875 and 1903. It’s a delightful color print depicting a rustic scene. Editor: It’s a strangely serene picture. There’s a tension between the soft innocence of the rabbits and the rather imposing presence of the goat that unsettles me. It’s not all cozy. Curator: I see that. The composition itself is quite interesting. The basket in the background acts as a structural anchor, and the animals are arranged in a careful triangular pattern, leading your eye through the scene. Notice how the artist uses light and shadow to define form. Editor: And to reinforce hierarchies. The rabbits are all huddled around the food bowl in a competition for resources, vulnerable, and the goat towers over them in a very predatory way. It seems to capture anxieties about class and access, all through animal allegory. Curator: Perhaps. The texture created by the lithographic printmaking process is key too. It adds a tactile quality, doesn’t it? This rough, grainy feel juxtaposed against the smooth fur of the animals creates a visual contrast. Editor: I think this also shows a glimpse into the food production of that time, and that’s where some of the impact lies, it tells an intersectional story about power, domesticity, and nature that we are still grappling with today. Curator: I hadn't considered it that way. Editor: Ultimately, this work, which seems initially simple, is packed with rich contextual material if you go beyond the picture itself. Curator: Yes, after this close analysis, I must say I have gained a deeper appreciation for De Haan's work and its many layers of significance.