Drie kinderen spelend met een varkensblaas 1775 - 1833

Editor: So, here we have "Three Children Playing with a Pig's Bladder," a watercolor drawing from between 1775 and 1833, by Jean Bernard, housed right here in the Rijksmuseum. It’s quite a quaint scene, but I’m curious – what catches your eye in terms of its significance? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the materiality. Forget the sentimental subject matter for a moment. Focus on that bladder. Think about the pig, the slaughter, the butchering, the transformation of an animal organ into a child’s toy. That’s labor, that’s process, that's about means of production right there, isn't it? Editor: I suppose I hadn’t considered it in such stark terms. It does recontextualize play, doesn't it? I’m also seeing clothing hanging, and a broom next to the structure, what does it tell us? Curator: Exactly! It is essential we remember the drawing as material reality and the social strata on display. What about the broom and laundry indicates high art, and why is it essential for understanding who will use this artwork? This is an explicit social hierarchy built into the everyday of production and living, how does it makes us reflect? Editor: It all certainly seems much more complex when thinking about the art’s production through materiality and context! I like seeing familiar subject matter with different eyes! Curator: Precisely! Shifting perspective allows us to interpret beyond what may be initially presented.