Studieblad met konijnen 1887 - 1924

Curator: Here we have "Studieblad met konijnen," or "Study Sheet with Rabbits," attributed to Julie de Graag. It's rendered in ink on paper, sometime between 1887 and 1924, and now resides in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Oh, it's utterly charming! A flurry of bunnies, all simple lines and quiet observation. Like a peek into the artist's sketchbook, when she was just, you know, doodling. Makes me want to grab a pencil and join in. Curator: Indeed. De Graag’s technique is deceptively straightforward. Note the economical use of line to define form—almost a calligraphic approach. Each rabbit is reduced to its essential gestural quality. It elegantly displays her focus on basic structure. Editor: They’re so plump! And each pose suggests a different little personality, even with the sparseness of detail. Look, there's one that's practically a fuzzy potato, and another looking remarkably alert! It's less about pure realism and more about... capturing their essence, I think. Curator: Precisely. Though tagged with "realism", we understand this as a study of form, rather than strict mimetic representation. The placement of these studies, scattered across the page, introduces the idea of the page as a field; the white acting as negative space that articulates each figure. Editor: It also reminds me of a child’s drawing, actually, raw and intuitive—before all the art school baggage creeps in. It has that sort of unaffected purity. I feel like she really just liked watching bunnies, you know? There’s love here. Curator: Perhaps a bit too sentimental. I agree the work is undeniably playful. The use of simple linework gives the impression of speed and movement. As such, the work transcends realism and occupies a semiotic domain where each rabbit is merely an idea of itself. Editor: And maybe that's the real magic. We look, and suddenly they come alive in our minds, hopping around! Curator: A fine sentiment. In sum, this simple drawing provides a glimpse into how elemental artistic structure informs creative practices. Editor: Absolutely, and the pure joy of observing something sweet and furry! A great starting point to consider animal portraiture and a lighthearted view of form.