Jongen en boer met een stok op de schouder c. 1868s - 1878s

Curator: Looking at "Boy and Farmer with a Stick on His Shoulder" by Jan Willem van Borselen, created sometime between the 1860s and 1870s, currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. What stands out to you? Editor: It has an immediate feeling of rural simplicity and a somewhat melancholic innocence, don't you think? The sketching is so spare and the figures occupy only a portion of the composition; it highlights their quiet existence in an overwhelming world. Curator: Indeed, Van Borselen's choice of simple pencil on paper really underscores the humbleness of the subjects. You can almost feel the rough texture of their clothes just from the way the lines are rendered. Editor: The stick itself, worn smooth I'm sure by years of labor. That has cultural resonance. It evokes a symbol of guidance, of the burdens of the working class passed down from one generation to the next. Is the artist commenting on that cyclical nature, the boy walking in the man's footsteps quite literally? Curator: Quite possibly! His work often focused on rural genre scenes; this almost feels like a study in how agricultural life shapes identity. I'm wondering what kind of labor each has to complete, and what each garment signifies concerning occupation and status. Look closely at the mark making here! See where Borselen favors harder, darker marks. Editor: It seems almost dreamlike, capturing a moment suspended in time, or maybe the artist captured the very moment that boy wondered if his dreams will stay dreams, or become just like the older man’s existence? Curator: Fascinating! I was preoccupied with how that type of cheap paper affects how much visual information the artist is capable of imbuing. You're on a totally different path and bringing interesting things to my attention. Editor: That's the magic, right? Different paths meeting at one point to enhance the whole viewing experience. I think the audience would like it here, a very human touch I can feel in those quick strokes. Curator: Well said. I believe examining both the materials and cultural nuances is enriching to this work.