Jumping Furry Dog n.d.

Curator: Right now we're looking at "Jumping Furry Dog," a drawing of indeterminate date by Dirk Valkenburg. It resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. What's your first reaction to this study of canine anatomy? Editor: Well, it strikes me immediately as something…unfinished, raw. The artist’s hand is so visible, the sketch lines almost vibrating with pent-up energy. There’s a certain tension created by the diagonal lines, from the head lunging downwards to the rear legs pushing up and back as if bracing itself for action. Curator: Indeed. Valkenburg, known for his animal paintings, likely created this work to meticulously investigate the anatomy of the subject. During this time, animal paintings were becoming very popular with the bourgeois class. Works like this reflected the burgeoning scientific interests and a deep engagement with the natural world. Editor: Yes, and note the color. That reddish-brown pastel creates a wonderful warmth, suggesting both vitality and earthiness. The animal seems literally made of earth. We see the layering and blending too. Curator: Precisely, and considering Valkenburg’s clientele, these kinds of details had symbolic value. Representing the power, virility, and even loyalty they desired in their companions. There's a real projection onto animals during this period that resonates even today. Editor: You can also see the immediacy of the creative act itself. There’s no striving for photorealistic perfection here; rather, a focus on the feeling of movement. Curator: You're quite right. And that directness had political value. An artist demonstrating the dynamism and capabilities that reflected values during a period of immense social change. Editor: The interesting choice of dry media certainly aids that dynamism and the textural variations, like around the fur of its neck are striking. The softness really comes alive, offering us both anatomical study, and the feeling of the beast itself. Curator: It's an interesting case study into how shifting social and cultural dynamics can directly affect the world of art. Editor: It gives you a whole new appreciation for the line.