Drie ramskoppen / Zittende hond 1792 - 1810

Curator: Good morning. We're looking at a sheet of studies by Wouter Johannes van Troostwijk titled "Three Rams’ Heads/Seated Dog". The pencil drawing dates from between 1792 and 1810. Editor: It has a distinctly anatomical feel, like studies for a veterinary textbook, but also carries a melancholy air. The lone dog looks so solemn. Curator: Precisely. It echoes the fascination with the natural world characteristic of the Romantic era. Notice how meticulously the artist captures the textures – the dog's fur, the rams’ wool and horns. Editor: Yes, the contrast in textures is captivating. I love how the lines create depth and shadow. I wonder, are the animals presented as symbols? Rams, for instance, are often associated with virility or stubbornness. The dog perhaps with fidelity? Curator: Very insightful. Van Troostwijk might have intended some symbolic reading. Dogs frequently embody loyalty, guidance, and protection, themes quite prevalent at the time. The ram could symbolize courage, determination or leadership within agrarian society. But these could also be simple studies – artistic explorations without heavy symbolism. Editor: Maybe. I keep feeling the pathos though. The division of the picture plane into studies adds a sense of disjunction too, a contrast in tone. The dog looks present and alive. The disembodied heads almost feel spectral. Curator: The visual effect aligns with trends in Romanticism – where emotion and subjectivity rise above reason, encouraging audiences to feel rather than just intellectually understand. The drawings were likely created at the genesis of that shift. Editor: So it's a picture of shifting sensibilities, captured with exquisite skill in humble pencil. How lovely! Curator: Indeed. It provides insights into artistic practices, symbol interpretation and the emergence of cultural attitudes during this transition period. Editor: Well, I find that the longer I gaze, the more humanity I perceive—both in the depicted animals and the person that has sketched them.