Twee klipdassen 1871 - 1927

Curator: Here we have Floris Verster's drawing "Twee klipdassen," or "Two Hyraxes," believed to have been created sometime between 1871 and 1927. It’s rendered in pencil on paper and is a part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: It’s surprisingly endearing! There's a gentleness to it. The light pencil strokes create soft textures and the subjects appear almost like fuzzy little spirits emerging from a cloud. Curator: It does have an ethereal quality. These creatures, the hyraxes, nestled together in the drawing remind us of more ancient animalistic beliefs. Consider how animals served as totems, representing clans and spirits. Does this rendering evoke something primal within you? Editor: It makes me consider representation, who is afforded it and under what circumstances. When you study art history, often animal subjects exist primarily within allegorical paintings of wealth or status, so in my view this drawing provides an intimate, dignified, perhaps even loving portrayal outside such contexts. What social conditions must exist to allow for that shift? Curator: An astute observation. The softness of the pencil almost grants these creatures a soulfulness, suggesting that their likeness bears cultural weight, doesn’t it? We read human-like emotion into the gentle line work around their eyes. Editor: Exactly. Realism in art, historically, has often excluded many human identities too, creating a social hierarchy that we still deal with. I find it particularly telling how artists choose their subjects, animal or human, and which aspects they highlight. Is Verster critiquing existing social conditions through the quiet focus of this study? Curator: Perhaps, it certainly lends itself to such speculation. Regardless, the drawing is beautifully done. It has an elegance born of observation. One can imagine Verster sitting quietly, capturing these creatures in their habitat, trying to capture something meaningful. Editor: For me, it underscores the potential within artistic media for highlighting subjects that might typically exist outside traditional representational frameworks. That subtle yet conscious shift feels… empowering. Curator: An interesting read, reminding us how even a seemingly simple image holds within it layers of cultural reflection and resistance. Editor: I concur. Artworks like this spark broader, more inclusive conversations, allowing us to re-evaluate not just aesthetics but the politics of seeing.