Redlaw voor zijn open haard 1842 - 1887

Curator: This is “Redlaw voor zijn open haard” by Carel Christiaan Antony Last, made between 1842 and 1887. The medium is ink on paper, and it's currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The immediate impact is somber, isn't it? The monochromatic palette enhances a pervading sense of melancholy. The figures appear isolated, trapped within their internal worlds, emphasized by the heavy shadows and linear detail. Curator: Precisely. The artist’s command of line contributes to this atmospheric romanticism. Notice how the cross-hatching defines the characters' forms and the architecture of the room. The weight of shadow lends an undeniable gravity. Editor: It's fascinating to consider the choice of ink on paper. The material’s capacity for both delicate detail and stark contrast perfectly mirrors the psychological struggle of the figures. You know, this scene wouldn't hit the same if it was in a different medium. Curator: Indeed, it evokes a sense of intimacy, inviting the viewer into the character's private anguish. We might consider the positioning of the figure, doubling Redlaw himself. A semiotic representation of the split personality that Redlaw suffered, perhaps. Editor: Speaking of interiority, consider how Last might have constructed the fireplace in the image, a possible tool in crafting this artwork and affecting consumer tastes and marketability, since open-air hearths at this time started being a rarity in Europe. Curator: A fascinating observation, placing the artwork into its socio-economic moment! Editor: These considerations of production, technique, material and reception enrich how we can interpret works such as this and add depth to a viewing of it. Curator: Yes, absolutely. Viewing “Redlaw” via an examination of light, composition, and material execution invites us to experience the psychological depths and artfulness inherent within it. Editor: And for me, it becomes more about seeing how Last managed to build with labor this narrative. This kind of view makes "Redlaw" very special in this collection.