Curatorial notes
Editor: We’re looking at "Juli," a hand-drawn sketch created in 1672 by Dirck de Bray, seemingly an illustration of a fish dish alongside the titular month spelled out in red, gothic script. There’s a casual, almost playful feel to it, like a page torn from a personal sketchbook. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, yes, "Juli." It feels like stumbling upon a visual diary entry, doesn't it? The text and imagery, they hint at a slice of 17th-century life – maybe even the artist’s own lunch! Consider the immediacy of ink on toned paper – no elaborate preparation, just the impulse to capture a moment. De Bray might be playing with typography and the idea of ‘illustration’ here, uniting image and text into a tasty little calendar square! Almost like a medieval illuminated manuscript, made democratic for the printing press age. What sort of "taste" do you imagine from looking at this plate of fish? Editor: Democratic illumination... I like that. So, the gothic script and the fish – are they symbolic in some way, maybe linked to Dutch culture? Curator: Perhaps! Fish were undeniably vital to the Dutch economy and diet. It's not a stretch to suggest that food preparation—even the depiction of food—resonates with the day to day of the Netherlands. And consider this “sketch” as a carefully considered artwork and each of its components gain nuance. Do you notice anything else, such as where your eye is drawn when considering this image? Editor: My eye jumps to the red "Juli," it sort of vibrates off the page. This wasn’t just a shopping list; de Bray put real thought into it. I will not forget it! Curator: Precisely! Even seemingly offhand sketches hold a multitude. Sometimes, the magic is not in the grand statement but the quiet observation. This has given me a little appetite for exploration.