Ooievaar tussen kikkers 1900 - 1935

Editor: This drawing, "Ooievaar tussen kikkers," or "Stork Among Frogs," by Patricq Kroon, dating from sometime between 1900 and 1935, uses pencil and what appears to be aged paper. I'm struck by the cartoonish feel, the stark lines creating an almost satirical atmosphere. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider the drawing as a material artifact, isn't it? The aged paper itself tells a story of production and consumption of resources within a particular historical period. Look closely at the artist's choices. Why drawing rather than painting, with readily-available pigment? And why this specific paper quality? Consider the paper shortages that accompanied both world wars and its impacts. The use of pencil suggests both immediacy and perhaps, economic constraints. Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't really considered the materiality beyond just… the image. The artist titled the work: “The Hague Conference, The Quackers.” It feels very pointed now. Curator: Exactly. Knowing that shifts our focus. Kroon uses simple materials – paper and pencil – to address political themes, likely commenting on diplomatic gatherings in The Hague. Could “Quackers” reference idle chatter, ineffectual politicians posturing like a hungry stork and passive, fearful frogs? This rendering uses labor – both Kroon's physical act of drawing and the social ‘labor’ it portrays – to make a sharp political commentary. Notice the way that mass culture and politics get entwined in Kroon's work and also that he questions boundaries between high and low art, between the 'serious' work of statecraft and the seemingly trivial medium of political cartoons. Editor: So it's about elevating the ordinary materials and making us reflect about a serious message. Thank you for enlightening me to see its satirical tone! Curator: Indeed! By paying attention to the material conditions, it enhances our ability to really examine what we're seeing. It's rewarding to consider all factors involved in its creation and reception.