Feestvierend speelgoed c. 1900 - 1930

Curator: Here we have "Feestvierend speelgoed", which translates to "Celebrating Toys", a pen and ink drawing by Elly Verstijnen, likely created between 1900 and 1930. It offers an intriguing snapshot into the artist’s imagination, doesn't it? Editor: My first thought? Utter joyous chaos! It’s a wonderful explosion of playfulness, rendered in crisp ink. I’m drawn to the energy and the way the characters, toys seemingly come alive. Curator: Exactly! The setting looks like a child's playroom, probably meant to represent domestic comfort. But I wonder, what does it say about the construction of childhood innocence, given the rather frenetic activity on display? Were toys viewed differently in those years? Editor: Maybe innocence comes from chaos, who’s to say? For me, it’s less about social commentary and more about raw expression, the sheer joy in drawing these impossible scenes. Look at the doll attempting to climb down what looks like a ladder formed of his friends. It feels utterly dreamlike! Curator: Well, considering art institutions play a significant role in constructing canons, the fact that such playful, seemingly personal works find their place speaks to how definitions of ‘high art’ evolve to embrace folk art or sketches, too. Editor: High art, low art... who cares? This piece makes me want to grab my own pen and invent a whole world, regardless of the art world's stuffy rules! The boldness of the ink really drives the imagination. I see little vignettes happening everywhere – tiny narratives begging to be explored. Curator: And in its unassuming presentation, this piece prompts important questions about what we choose to preserve and elevate. Ultimately, “Celebrating Toys" reminds us that sometimes the most compelling art is the art that dares to simply delight. Editor: Yes, exactly. A reminder that pure, unfiltered fun can be profound in its own way. And that toys at night know what's up.