Vasten-avond / Carnaval 1833 - 1856

Curator: Ah, this watercolor, "Vasten-avond / Carnaval" attributed to Glenisson & Van Genechten, is brimming with visual delight. It's estimated to have been made sometime between 1833 and 1856. What springs to mind for you? Editor: What leaps out is the sheer whimsicality! It feels like stepping into a dream—a slightly absurd, slightly unsettling dream, like a half-remembered folk tale. There's such a joyful grotesqueness in the air. Curator: The composition certainly contributes to that feeling. Note the procession; it almost strains against the edges of the picture plane. Each character, each detail seems equally weighted, defying traditional hierarchical arrangements. The perspective, if one could call it that, is cheerfully distorted. Editor: Exactly! The space is flattened, giving it a playful, almost cartoonish quality. The ostrich carrying the child past the coach is fantastic! What about the strange boat-float? A sailing vessel, but landlocked on a cart... It suggests a world where the normal rules are suspended, a world turned upside down. Curator: Precisely, and one must consider the materiality. The delicacy of the watercolor lends an airy lightness, yet the density of figures creates a sense of contained chaos. Consider also the limited color palette – a strategic decision emphasizing line and form over realism, enhancing the sense of artifice. Editor: The color scheme, especially the muted blues and greens, gives it a nostalgic flavor, doesn't it? A lost world. But there's an undercurrent of something darker there too, the grotesque masks hinting at hidden identities, social commentary... it is clearly allusive. It’s much more than mere prettiness. It invites stories. Curator: I agree. In dismantling our usual spatial expectations and defying conventional representation, the artists reveal deeper truths about human nature. The artwork operates almost as a tableau, each figure a signifier. Editor: Ultimately, this seemingly lighthearted sketch contains so much richness and texture upon closer examination, prompting contemplation about revelry, disguise, and societal expectations. Curator: Indeed, it's a testament to the power of seemingly simple artistic choices. A world captured in pigment. Editor: Carnival indeed; one last vibrant hurrah! A sweet fever dream!