Studies van schapen en geiten 1826

Editor: Here we have "Studies van schapen en geiten", or "Studies of Sheep and Goats", a pencil drawing from 1826 by James de Rijk. There's a charming, almost childlike quality to these animals. They seem very patiently rendered. What catches your eye? Curator: It's like stumbling upon a page from a naturalist’s journal, isn't it? All these soft, gentle strokes of graphite, capturing the essence of sheep and goats with such affection! It reminds me of my own attempts to capture fleeting moments in nature – always a humbling exercise! Tell me, do you see the different textures De Rijk manages to achieve with just a pencil? The woolliness versus the goats' shorter hair? Editor: I do! It's subtle but it definitely creates a sense of depth. It almost makes you wonder, were these sketches done from life, right there in the pasture? Curator: I wouldn't doubt it. The immediacy, the little imperfections—those are the tell-tale signs of working en plein air, facing your subject. Each of those animals probably shifted a bit as they were rendered, giving it this life! It almost invites you to imagine him sat there. Perhaps it was cold! Perhaps they were less than thrilled to have him. What sort of a man must he have been? Editor: I like thinking about those small interactions. What I'm really getting from this work, I guess, is the beauty of simply observing the world around you. It doesn't have to be a grand landscape. Curator: Precisely! Art isn’t always about the grand statement; sometimes it’s about the quiet observation. I love the vulnerability present when someone puts themselves in nature, and I love seeing a moment captured from the 1800's here. It really helps you connect. Editor: Definitely given me a new appreciation for the humble sketch! Curator: And me for ruminants. Baaa!