Tros blauwe druiven 1775 - 1833

Curator: Here we have a lovely botanical study entitled "Tros blauwe druiven," or "Bunch of Blue Grapes," created in watercolor on paper by Jean Bernard, sometime between 1775 and 1833. It’s part of the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: The immediacy is what strikes me. It's such a simple, yet effective composition; the grapes almost seem to leap off the stark background. There's a curious realism tempered with a hint of the romantic era in those colors. Curator: Indeed, the composition directs us to an engagement with form; it invites contemplation of structure via the clustered ovoids in varied violet gradations. I would like to draw attention to Bernard’s almost scientific approach to rendering the subject matter and its subtle texture, even if in plein-air. Editor: The grape motif itself is laden. From Bacchus and religious symbolism—the eucharist, abundant harvest—grapes evoke notions of fertility, transformation and celebratory gatherings across countless cultures and artistic periods. This simple bunch connects us to so many ancestral stories. Curator: What’s also fascinating is the almost diagrammatic approach. The composition serves to focus one’s attention acutely on its construction—it is pure subject, pure form and an invitation to look deeply. Editor: Do you think that slightly raised vine detail could be interpreted to further engage that sense of abundance and the earth's capacity for regeneration? It’s also quite unusual for naturalism and the scientific recording of plants. Curator: It does disrupt the formal elegance a little, but perhaps enhances it with unexpected tensions; the interplay between realism and abstract form is a crucial formal strength here. Editor: A strong piece of nature, culture and technique coming together; I am thankful to this humble bunch of grapes. Curator: Precisely, there is much to engage with formally and aesthetically, despite the humble, earthly subject matter.