Deur 1980 - 1985

Curator: This compelling piece, aptly titled "Deur"—Dutch for "Door"—is a drawing by Kees Stoop, created between 1980 and 1985. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum, executed in charcoal and ink. Editor: My initial impression is starkness; it feels very closed off. The deep shadows and rough texture evoke a sense of confinement. The drawing style, like a charcoal sketch, emphasizes the rudimentary form of a doorway as a sort of barrier. Curator: Precisely. Stoop’s choice of media and method speak volumes about the labour of representation. We see the deliberate, perhaps repetitive strokes of charcoal, revealing a physical engagement with the material, which underscores the significance of its construction and placement. There is no high polish, just the immediacy of drawing. Editor: The image prompts reflection about passages: closed borders and denied access, social inequality perhaps, are highlighted. Or, thinking about domesticity and boundaries: whose spaces are open and whose are enclosed? Curator: Note that the pen sketch work appears gestural and quite rapid. You can see how this emphasis could act to represent an architecture designed to exclude. Considering this, could Stoop’s sketch not also be regarded as a commentary on societal inequalities, even class division, conveyed via the medium’s unpretentious character? Editor: Yes, there's a lot to unpack regarding the history and cultural role of doors. One could argue that the artwork acts as a reflection on the architectural politics, focusing attention on class and social discrimination during the 1980s, when it was produced. I keep thinking about structures, both the physical architecture in this work, and other figurative structures within society. Curator: What fascinates me about the use of simple material and method is Stoop's awareness of the materials. A drawing of such nature gives access to labour while simultaneously pointing to art as a commodity through this singular object for viewing pleasure. Editor: By revealing this simple portrayal of an everyday, unextraordinary doorway, Stoop forces us to address broader cultural conversations in regards to enclosure, boundaries, and separation that define us as people. Curator: It leaves one with more to consider regarding our roles in building social connections as well as in making such drawings and artworks. Editor: Agreed. "Deur" offers an insightful and potent commentary on the socio-political conditions in Dutch culture between 1980 and 1985.