Ruiters met paarden 1839 - 1915

Editor: Here we have "Ruiters met paarden" or "Riders with Horses," a print, an etching actually, by Cornelis Albertus Johannes Schermer, sometime between 1839 and 1915. It's got a delightfully casual air about it. There’s almost a comic energy with the dog leaping at the horses. What catches your eye? Curator: You know, it’s funny, isn't it? This feels like a moment caught on the fly. Schermer, I suspect, wasn’t aiming for high drama here. Instead, it’s a slice of life, wouldn’t you say? I wonder if he knew those riders, maybe saw this scene unfold daily. The etching itself feels quite personal, like a memory sketched quickly before it faded. Have you noticed how much detail he manages with so few lines? Editor: Definitely. The landscape seems to breathe despite its simplicity, but what does that simplicity contribute? Curator: Precisely! It gives the scene a universality, wouldn’t you agree? It's not about one specific place but a feeling, a timeless quality of rural life. The slightly rough texture of the etching emphasizes this idea for me. Also, there's a dog! I always have to ask; what do you think the artist is saying by including the animal? Editor: I suppose it enlivens things – adds movement, perhaps chaos. Almost makes me wonder if the artist had dogs running around at his studio, if it captures his ordinary environment. Curator: An excellent point. That actually got me thinking about Schermer’s own life; you never know. Perhaps it was just that, you know, the dogs are so present to everyday moments that we cannot go without capturing them as well! Editor: So, by embracing a common subject matter, "genre painting" with realist touch and simple methods, he turns the normal into art. Curator: In short? Beautifully captured. I wonder, did we unravel any mystery that might compel someone into grabbing their gear and start creating themselves? Editor: I'm about ready to buy some copper plates myself.