Twee kreeften 1887 - 1924

Editor: This drawing, titled "Twee Kreeften," or "Two Lobsters," is attributed to Julie de Graag and was made sometime between 1887 and 1924, using pencil and ink. It's so simple, almost like a scientific illustration, but with a symbolic undertone. What can you tell me about the materiality and context of this piece? Curator: Well, consider the sheer availability and cost-effectiveness of pencil and ink at that time. It speaks volumes about De Graag’s intended audience and purpose. This wasn’t meant for some elite salon; it's accessible, utilitarian even. Editor: Utilitarian? But there's such a delicate artistry in the linework, a symbolic quality... Curator: Precisely. And isn't it interesting how she elevates the mundane, using these accessible materials? Think about the labor involved in producing paper and ink, even then. She's not just depicting lobsters; she's engaging with the very means of artistic production and perhaps the commercial consumption it represents, blurring the lines between high art and everyday life. Where might these lobsters appear in the context of daily life at that time? Editor: I guess, displayed at a market, or maybe as inspiration for advertisements. The drawing highlights them as commodities but the symbolism gives them this individual power. Curator: Exactly! It prompts us to reflect on the processes that transform nature into consumable goods. Look closely: is she glorifying them or making a social comment on labor and consumption? It's more complex than a simple sketch of seafood. Editor: So, it's less about what's depicted and more about how the depiction itself comments on social systems through the means of its making? I had never considered that the choice of materials itself was such a strong message! Curator: Yes! And that's the crux of understanding art within a materialist framework. Editor: Thank you. I’ll never look at a simple sketch the same way again!