Studie van schapen en geiten 1838 - 1840

Curator: So, here we have “Studie van schapen en geiten,” a drawing rendered in pencil sometime between 1838 and 1840 by Pierre Frédéric Lehnert. You know, looking at it here at the Rijksmuseum, what’s your first impression? Editor: Mmm, restful. There's a stillness to it that almost makes me want to take a nap right here. Like, these sheep and goats are masters of serene contemplation. Curator: Restful is an interesting choice of words. Looking at it from a formal perspective, observe the interplay of light and shadow across their fleeces. Lehnert's masterful use of line and shading creates volume. The composition, almost a pyramid of forms, grounds them in their landscape. Editor: That contrast gives real depth to it. The pencil strokes, though, I feel like they capture more than just shape. It’s like you can almost feel the texture of their wool and even smell the field. You know? Curator: Texture definitely plays a crucial role, and that speaks to Lehnert's engagement with realism. How meticulously each animal is rendered... You notice that? Editor: Totally. And not to get too whimsical here, but it strikes me how sheep and goats symbolize totally different things: docility versus, well, stubbornness, or even devilment. Yet here, they're just... being. Coexisting. Curator: An interesting reading that underscores how realism isn’t simply about copying nature. The choices made in depicting those details speak volumes. Editor: Exactly! Makes you wonder about what everyday life was for these creatures. Not divine allegories, not idealized visions. Curator: Yes, art holding a mirror to mundane but remarkable life around us, and letting us gaze on to pastoral quietude. Editor: Well said. Thanks. Makes me feel ready to spend an afternoon reflecting on my inner sheep, and less time being devilish, perhaps.