Vignet met libellen en mug 1893

Editor: This is "Vignet met libellen en mug" – "Vignette with dragonflies and gnat" – made by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof in 1893. It’s an ink drawing on paper, and the repeating geometric shapes give it a rhythmic, almost hypnotic feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, I see the artist grappling with the Symbolist movement, a time rife with anxieties about industrialization and its effect on our relationship with the natural world. Dijsselhof's focus on insects, specifically the dragonfly and gnat, places the viewer face-to-face with nature and offers a commentary on the scale of power and existence within those frameworks. Do you notice how these natural forms are also rigidly stylized? Editor: Yes, I see the way nature is so carefully organized. How does that connect to these broader anxieties? Curator: The late 19th century saw anxieties concerning gender and social hierarchies blending with scientific determinism. Dijsselhof’s hyper-organized vignette suggests a controlling hand, reflecting the desire to impose order on a chaotic, rapidly changing society, as well as patriarchal efforts to contain notions of free expression. Think about Art Nouveau in contrast; it is known to echo themes of death, anxiety, and femininity. This framework could allow us to see this vignette through the lenses of race and colonialism, too. Editor: So, it’s not just about nature, but about how we try to control it? Curator: Precisely. It raises questions about the male gaze and the objectification of nature. Whose interests are being served by imposing this rigid structure? Editor: I didn't expect to find so much in a small drawing of insects! Curator: Exactly! Isn’t it incredible how a seemingly simple image can open up such complex discussions about society and power? I will never see a dragonfly the same way again.