Keizer Alexander-appels 1920 - 1924

Editor: Here we have Jac van Looij's "Keizer Alexander-appels," a pencil drawing made sometime between 1920 and 1924. It's a pretty straightforward still life of apples on a branch, and the sketchy quality of the pencil work gives it a raw, almost unfinished feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Beyond just being a study of fruit, this drawing makes me think about the labor involved in its creation. Consider the materiality of the pencil, the process of sketching and shading. It becomes an index of the artist's physical engagement with his subject and materials, a subtle resistance to solely 'high art' ideals. Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t really thought about it in terms of labor. Curator: Exactly! Even the title, referring to a specific kind of apple – 'Keizer Alexander' – points to agricultural labor, the cultivation of a specific product. Is it not then tied to a network of material exchange and consumption? It makes one consider not just *what* is represented but *how* it is produced and consumed within a specific social context. Editor: So you’re saying the drawing isn’t just about the aesthetic appeal of the apples but also about the social and economic structures that surround their production and the production of the artwork itself? Curator: Precisely. Van Looij is dealing with common subjects of aesthetic engagement in relation to their means of production and place within an economy of material use. Do you agree? Editor: Yes, it adds a completely new dimension to how I see still life drawings now. Curator: I'm pleased. I have a new appreciation as well, thinking more critically about these often-overlooked elements. Editor: Me too. Thanks for sharing your insight.