De beer en de twee jagers 1894 - 1959

Editor: So, here we have "The Bear and the Two Hunters," dating from sometime between 1894 and 1959, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It's done in watercolor, almost like a page torn from a storybook. It feels quaint, a bit comical, even. What catches your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: It sings to me of a simpler time, perhaps, when cautionary tales were spun with charming naivete. It reminds me a bit of childhood storybooks and handmade puppets. You see the tale unfold in sequential vignettes. Almost like an early comic strip, isn't it? And those slightly stiff figures... tell me, what do you make of the way the figures are styled? Editor: Well, they're definitely not going for realism! They seem intentionally…folksy, almost like they could be illustrations for a play. Curator: Exactly! Which brings us to wonder… Is it merely illustration or perhaps something more? The Dutch have always held dear the symbolism in the everyday, the idea of moral storytelling hidden in plain sight. Note the way the colors work together—what impression do they make? Editor: They're muted and pastel-like which gives the scene this fantastical, dreamlike, story-time feel. Curator: Dreamlike indeed. Perhaps Gordinne is less concerned with history, and more interested in conjuring up an essence: the idea of being in nature and needing your wits, but more than that, learning about morality and ethics. That feels real! How differently do we view a bear when we realize the artwork isn't simply showing a ‘bear and hunters’ scenario, it teaches values to us all! Editor: That really changes how I see the picture. The narrative unfolds a complex tapestry of events woven to teach valuable life lessons and values. I appreciate the journey! Curator: Glad to be part of the journey of awakening new perspectives with you.