Vijf proefdrukken voor de Almanack for 1887 before 1886

Editor: So, here we have “Vijf proefdrukken voor de Almanack for 1887,” made before 1886, from an anonymous artist – it’s watercolor, and it has a sort of, antique greeting card vibe? There's a wistful, nostalgic feel to it… What stands out to you? Curator: Oh, absolutely. It's like stumbling upon a forgotten world tucked between the pages of an old book. These little scenes whisper secrets, don't they? Look at the way the artist captures those figures with such delicate lines, giving them this dreamy, ephemeral quality. It almost feels like a snippet from a play, with the figures poised mid-scene. The colours add to this sensation as they create a harmonious echo across each vignette. What is so important about those figures? Why are there multiples? Editor: They almost look like…characters that would tell your fortune, or be featured on little cakes during Afternoon Tea…The repetition does suggest characters for the almanac. The women dressed in a similar way frame floating angels and form almost like bookends... like illustrations pulled from an old storybook. Why watercolour? It's quite translucent. Curator: Isn't it wonderful how watercolour captures light? The artist maybe selected it precisely because it imbues everything with a fleeting lightness, appropriate for the ethereal scene. And imagine each of these delicate scenes appearing in the Almanack – it could offer a touch of whimsy into everyday life! A tiny escape…Do you think there's also something else implied about the changing roles or cycles implied here? Is the almanac presenting itself to women, perhaps? Editor: Mmm… yes! The placement and positioning of the figures implies not only that these characters appear repeatedly but, with those subtle hints you've described, that maybe the almanac can present these kinds of characters to different audiences over and over. Each woman gets to see herself reflected back with some angels. It’s the dawn of media for everyday folk. Curator: Exactly. Isn't it amazing how much narrative and imagination can be packed into such small sketches? It just shows the potential power of art in the mundane. Editor: Definitely changes my view on almanacs! A tiny artwork with huge social implications.