"Hververen" 1778 - 1780

Editor: This is "Hververen" by Georg Christian Schule, made between 1778 and 1780. It seems to be a coloured-pencil engraving. I'm struck by the exaggerated features of the figure and the bright colour palette. What is your take on this work? Curator: Initially, one is compelled to consider the interplay of line and color. Note how Schule utilizes line, particularly in the figure's silhouette, to establish a dynamic yet contained form. The carefully applied colours, do they not seem to enhance the sense of artifice? Consider how the figure's pose is constructed by these formal choices. Editor: Yes, I see how the pose contributes to the feeling. The line creates that slight curve and the colors really help with that artificial mood! Is that the goal? Curator: To assess intention is beyond the scope of formalism, however, consider the relationship between these stylistic decisions and their role in emphasizing caricature. Do the color choices perhaps amplify certain traits while minimizing others? Editor: I suppose they do. The red of the jacket definitely jumps out! I had assumed the colours were just chosen to mirror how soldiers would look. I hadn't thought of it beyond a one-to-one representation. Curator: Representation, certainly, but filtered through a lens of exaggeration. Look at the detail around the face. Now how does the use of light and shadow play a role in further deconstructing the composition. Editor: The face is the point of contrast. What I see differently is a renewed sense of composition. The balance in color and the sharp line create contrast that really builds the picture! Curator: Precisely! Through close inspection of these fundamental aspects, the construction of form and affect begin to take on novel arrangements.