Kop van een ram 1807 - 1861

Editor: We're looking at "Head of a Ram" by Cornelis Steffelaar, created sometime between 1807 and 1861. It's a pencil drawing, and I'm struck by its realism; it almost feels like a portrait. What stands out to you about this drawing? Curator: The intensity of the ram's gaze, rendered so vividly in pencil, invites us to consider the ram as more than just livestock. Steffelaar created this in a period steeped in agricultural transition and the rise of livestock breeding as an economic driver, so it’s not out of pocket to wonder if he's offering commentary on the human-animal dynamic. How does seeing it as potentially symbolic of power structures shift your perspective? Editor: That's fascinating. It definitely makes me consider the ram not just as an animal, but as a representation of strength and even… stubbornness. Does the medium, the humble pencil, also play a role? Curator: Absolutely. Pencil, as a readily available and democratic medium, places the artwork outside the realm of the elite portraiture. Instead it’s suggesting a democratized space. What do you think, if anything, this conveys about our modern relationships with animals and agriculture? Editor: Thinking about our current environmental and ethical debates around farming, I see how Steffelaar's work resonates even more. It challenges us to consider our responsibility toward the animals we raise. I never would have considered it that way if you didn’t mention these factors. Curator: Exactly. Art is never created in a vacuum. And hopefully you’ve noticed how powerful historic works like these can still be as starting points to inform our understanding of our contemporary world. Editor: Yes! Thank you for expanding my understanding of this work.