Studieblad met kleine vogels 1864 - 1936

Editor: This drawing, "Studieblad met kleine vogels," which translates to "Study Sheet with Small Birds," is a pencil work made sometime between 1864 and 1936 by Jan van Essen, held at the Rijksmuseum. It’s just…a few small birds on a branch. The style feels very realistic but informal, more like a sketch than a finished work. What do you see in this piece, considering its context? Curator: What strikes me is its function as a study. How did the institutions of art education and artistic practice shape what was deemed worthy of study, and how was this study then translated into more ‘finished’ works for public consumption? The rendering of these birds reflects an intense engagement with naturalism, very popular then, driven by an almost scientific need to observe nature precisely. Editor: So, the value wasn’t necessarily in the drawing itself, but in what it allowed the artist to learn? Curator: Exactly! Consider also the social implications: Who had the leisure to study nature so closely? The rise of a middle class with disposable income fueled the demand for these skills, either for personal enrichment or professional purposes. What did studying and rendering something natural like these birds signify within society? Editor: So, this drawing connects to ideas about class, education, and the public's relationship to the natural world. Was there a particular demand for ornithological illustration at the time? Curator: Absolutely. The rising popularity of illustrated books and magazines created opportunities for artists skilled in depicting birds and other animals. These images played a vital role in shaping public understanding and appreciation of the natural world, and sometimes reinforced colonial ideas too about the mastery of nature. Editor: I didn't think of that. It's interesting how seemingly simple studies like this can tell us so much about the art world and the wider culture they existed in. Curator: Precisely. It highlights how museums help create the cultural perception about imagery and its place in politics and social narratives.