Uitzicht op de vulkaan De Kloet, Gambar c. 1921

Curator: This is Willem Witsen's drawing, "Uitzicht op de vulkaan De Kloet, Gambar," created around 1921. It's an ink drawing and is part of the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: There's something inherently serene about this pen sketch, despite depicting a volcano. The texture is striking. It looks like a wall or boundary in the midground formed by plants and earthworks. Curator: That is astute, especially the boundary. Given that this work emerges from a Dutch Orientalist aesthetic, how do you interpret the symbolic framing of the volcanic landscape beyond it? Editor: I'm curious about the making. I'd love to know more about the paper itself. What inks were available to Witsen, and what was the socio-economic reality surrounding his access to these materials? Curator: That's a relevant inquiry given your perspective! As for the medium, ink carries significant historical and cultural weight, linking mark-making to documentation and preservation across civilisations. In the context of Dutch Orientalism, this piece is more than just a landscape. The volcano—a site of immense power—becomes a potent emblem of the exoticized, even subjugated, "other." Editor: Subjugated perhaps, or maybe just consumed. There’s something decorative, even exploitative in taking something like a volcano and rendering it in delicate lines, stripping away the grit and earthiness for an aesthetic experience. Curator: I find that very insightful, highlighting a potential power dynamic inherent in this Orientalist approach. The technique emphasizes control, distancing the viewer from the potential danger or awe one might experience firsthand. Editor: Indeed, and thinking of that boundary – I imagine the artist carefully selecting and meticulously drawing the plants and landscape within the field of vision. All the minute labor dedicated to a limited framing. It certainly changes how I respond. Curator: Examining this artwork with you has provided a valuable dual perspective. Viewing it through both a symbolic and material lens brings an enriched understanding. Editor: Absolutely! Thinking about it's materiality, purpose, and symbolism only deepens the resonance.