Wat zou deze prent verbeelden / 't schijnt wel eens komediespel / Of een troep van wassen beelden / Of iets anders, ziet ge wel? 1848 - 1881

Editor: This drawing by Lutkie & Cranenburg, dating from the mid-19th century, is titled "Wat zou deze prent verbeelden…" and is a print using pen and ink. I’m immediately struck by the poses of these figures; they seem very theatrical. What do you make of the arrangement and overall composition? Curator: Indeed. Note the deliberate arrangement of these figures and the uniformity of their style. How does the artist employ line and form? Editor: The lines are quite fine, creating a sense of flatness despite the shading. It's almost like a series of paper dolls. Is that intentional? Curator: Perhaps. Consider how the absence of depth directs our attention to the surface, the relationships between the figures. The uniformity subverts any deep symbolic readings. Editor: So you see the appeal in the shapes themselves, in this surface-level interpretation. They are uniformly sketched out with pen and ink drawing and arranged purposefully so that the eye does not linger for any one of them. Curator: Precisely. The aesthetic interest resides in the interplay of line, form, and the relationships among the characters. Their interactions spark more meaning. What do their costumes signal about social status and role within this pictorial stage? Editor: Their poses do have some social relation, I see what you mean now! Curator: This brings us to considering, What meaning emerges? Editor: Fascinating. I initially saw disparate characters but now I see connections in the very uniform composition itself. Curator: And with careful compositional readings the sketch moves away from simple costumery!