Achterplecht van een passagiersschip met Hollandse vlag 1874 - 1927

Editor: So, here we have "Achterplecht van een passagiersschip met Hollandse vlag" – that’s “The Stern of a Passenger Ship with a Dutch Flag” – dating from sometime between 1874 and 1927, by Johan Antonie de Jonge. It looks like a watercolor and ink sketch. I’m struck by how casual it feels, like a quick impression dashed off in a sketchbook. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, you nailed the impression. To me, it’s a memory – a fleeting one, perhaps, captured on paper before the ship sailed away. Look at the looseness of the lines; it is as though the artist wanted to convey the essence of the scene, rather than a photographic depiction. Almost like a reverie... Doesn't it feel a little like watching a dream fade? Editor: Definitely! I notice how he used color – muted tones mostly, but with these pops of the Dutch flag, which draws your eye up. Were sketchbooks common at the time? Curator: Absolutely. Think of sketchbooks as the Instagram of the 19th century – instant ways for artists to record observations and experiences. Many artists used them to develop larger works later. Imagine de Jonge perched on deck, the sea breeze rustling his hair as he quickly tries to bottle the scene! The sketch feels so personal and immediate. Makes you wonder what the occasion was, doesn’t it? Editor: It does! I hadn't thought of the sketchbook as a sort of proto-Instagram! Curator: Right? It collapses time and distance, offering us an intimate peek into the artist’s world and a shared moment from long ago. It is not about a perfect scene, but a personal feeling, the pure experience of travel, wind, and people. Editor: That's given me a totally fresh perspective. Thanks for untangling all of that! Curator: My pleasure! Always wonderful to connect with a moment captured in time, isn’t it? It's like finding a postcard sent from the past!