Ontwerp voor kostuum voor Atlas 1910 - 1918

Editor: This drawing, "Ontwerp voor kostuum voor Atlas" – which translates to 'Design for a Costume for Atlas' – was created between 1910 and 1918 by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst. It's done with watercolor and colored pencil. What strikes me most is the subdued color palette and the somewhat weary, yet defiant, posture of Atlas himself. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Weary *and* defiant, yes, exactly! That tension, it hums, doesn't it? Holst wasn't just designing a costume, you know; he was wrestling with the very idea of strength and burden. Atlas, in Greek myth, is doomed to hold up the heavens, an unimaginable weight. But here, look closer... "Maar 'k ben nog jong en sterk"… 'But I am still young and strong'. It's etched right above him, defiant Icarus attitude with an aged Daedalus gaze. What does that statement juxtaposed against his form conjure for you? Editor: That's interesting. I suppose it makes me question the reliability of his statement. Is he trying to convince himself, or us? He needs that walking stick! Curator: Precisely! The Symbolist movement, to which Holst belonged, reveled in these layered meanings. The costume design is less about historical accuracy and more about exploring the psychological weight of responsibility. That drab tunic, is it humility, practicality, or perhaps even impoverishment. He isn't a glistening god of the gymnasium. Editor: So it’s less about portraying a literal Atlas, and more about exploring the concept of enduring hardship? Curator: Precisely. Holst is asking us to consider the human cost of bearing immense burdens, even if those burdens are metaphorical. It makes you wonder about the unspoken sacrifices of everyday people. And even challenges my notions of Greek Gods and their all-encompassing powers. What will you walk away thinking about? Editor: Definitely a fresh perspective on Atlas, and a new appreciation for Symbolism. It's less about surface appearances and more about those hidden layers of meaning, both the burdens we carry, and what is said versus what is presented to us. Curator: Nicely observed, our perceptions become our reality, how will yours manifest? Food for thought as you continue your explorations.