Loup. / Wolf. / Lupo 1829 - 1880

Editor: This is "Loup. / Wolf. / Lupo," a drawing from the mid-19th century by firma Joseph Scholz, housed at the Rijksmuseum. It depicts a wolf in a landscape. The image is rendered with an interesting combination of media, it seems - watercolor, woodcut and pencil? There's a stark realism to the animal's gaze that’s a little unsettling. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I find this image fascinating when considered in its historical context. The 19th century saw an intensification of human/animal conflict, particularly around livestock. Think about the role of wolves in folklore – often stand-ins for societal fears, untamed nature, the 'other'. How does this depiction of the wolf, specifically, either perpetuate or challenge those narratives? Editor: That’s a really interesting point about the 'other.' The wolf does look a little cornered. It makes me wonder about the relationship between the artist, the wolf as a symbol, and the social anxieties of the time. Curator: Exactly! And consider who was consuming these images. Were they primarily landowners experiencing livestock losses? Urban dwellers distanced from the realities of rural life? The perspective shifts the entire meaning. Is it a scientific depiction, or something more? The use of color makes me wonder if it's not an educational resource. Editor: It makes me rethink the role of art beyond just aesthetics, to consider its impact on shaping cultural perceptions and driving social discourse, too. Curator: Indeed! Art is rarely created in a vacuum. Exploring those connections illuminates so much about both the art and the society that produced it.