Twee runderen 1818 - 1876

Editor: So, this is "Twee runderen," or "Two Cows," by Carel Christiaan Antony Last, created sometime between 1818 and 1876. It's a pencil drawing held at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me most is the texture; you can almost feel the roughness of the animals' coats despite the simplicity of the medium. How do you interpret this work from a formalist perspective? Curator: Indeed, the interplay of line and shadow constructs a palpable sense of texture, demonstrating a mastery of the pencil medium. Observe how the artist employs varied densities of graphite to articulate form and volume. Notice, for instance, the concentration of dark strokes delineating the musculature of the upper cow, versus the softer, more diffused shading employed in depicting the lower one. What effect do you believe these differing treatments achieve? Editor: I guess the contrasting techniques highlight the different types of cattle – making one appear more muscular, perhaps, and the other softer and woolier? But I wouldn't say there's necessarily a narrative… is there anything more to it? Curator: Precisely. It signifies a formal exploration rather than narrative. There's little concern for background, focusing instead on the animal forms themselves. Consider the negative space surrounding the figures. How does that affect your reading of the drawing? Is the emptiness distracting, or does it concentrate your gaze upon the lines and textures defining the subjects? Editor: I see what you mean. The blank background allows for the cows' forms to be fully explored. Thanks! Curator: A vital element in understanding Last's approach to this medium and objecthood. The materiality of the paper itself, in its stark whiteness, further enhances this dynamic.