Dierstudies 1876 - 1924

Curator: Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof, active between 1876 and 1924, gifted us this collection of "Dierstudies," or Animal Studies as we’d say. It’s currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought? Whimsical chaos! A playful romp of different animals, all sketched out with this charming, almost scribbled energy. I feel like I've stumbled into the artist's private sketchbook. Curator: It really does give off that intimate vibe. These aren't formal portraits, but rather explorations, a window into Dijsselhof's process. Note the lack of detailed backgrounds, all focus is dedicated to his subject of choice, animals. The social aspect is a collection of images, showcasing different species within the artist’s mind. Editor: I like that! They are dancing around each other and don't really relate. Like snippets of thoughts that appear together for one reason or another. I wonder, what do you think all these random encounters do to my inner-child-reading of the images? It makes me smile for starters, they’re oddly endearing! The lanky cat with a kangaroo on its back – utterly delightful. Curator: That endearing quality speaks to Dijsselhof's sensitivity to animal life, but it also has to be read through his cultural context. Representations of animals in the late 19th century were heavily influenced by colonial narratives, reflecting ideas about the ‘exotic’ and the ‘domestic’. Was he subtly subverting the human perception? It is fascinating to study his body of work in this context. Editor: Wow, I hadn't thought of it like that. And here I was just enjoying the cute factor! But you are so right. The piece could be questioning our relationship with the natural world and power dynamics embedded in representation. Maybe a playful criticism masked as a sketch? Curator: Precisely! The looseness of the lines allows space for these varied interpretations. It is a sketch and encourages one to explore that open field of thoughts. Editor: Well, now I can't unsee that. Thanks for messing with my initial innocent impression, but, actually, this deeper reading just makes the sketch even more thought-provoking. Curator: The goal is always to complicate, to enrich! Hopefully, our visitors will depart with a more nuanced perspective on these so-called ‘simple’ sketches. Editor: Absolutely! I'll definitely be looking at animal sketches with a new lens from now on! A playful yet serious perspective indeed!