Pijproker 1814 - 1859

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have "Pijproker," a pencil drawing created between 1814 and 1859 by David van der Kellen. Editor: There's something immediately intimate about this work. It feels like a quick sketch, a stolen moment. I'm drawn to the unpretentious honesty in its lines. Curator: Yes, it certainly captures a sense of immediacy. I find it interesting how van der Kellen uses the pipe. Smoking, throughout history, has represented contemplation, relaxation, and even camaraderie. His pose gives a sense of pensive observation. Editor: It's intriguing how much information is conveyed through such a simple medium. We see the delicate hatching lines that build form, creating texture to imply the fabric of his coat and the plushness of that incredible chair. The raw materiality emphasizes the artist's hand, the immediacy of the moment. Curator: Agreed. The headwear, a somewhat informal cap, feels very specific to a certain era. Clothing in portraits always communicates societal roles and even aspiration, it invites us to consider not just who the man was, but his cultural environment, what he may have valued, and his status in the world. Editor: And the social context. The man, the pipe, the implied smoke… were there political implications in representing smoking at the time, anxieties around new imported materials or cultural practice? It's amazing what a seemingly straightforward drawing can prompt us to ask about larger social forces. The roughness and the 'sketchwork' imply also that we are facing one study made by the author, with little or no intention of showing or selling. Curator: Precisely! The symbolism becomes a window into his world. By delving into the historical context and interpreting his gestures and objects, we can appreciate its cultural narrative. Editor: It reveals the magic inherent in humble materials. Curator: It’s amazing how a simple portrait sketch evokes such layers of history and emotion. Editor: The layers embedded within the lines keep unfolding if you allow them to.