Hoekkast met twee leeuwen, vooraanzicht met daaronder een doorsnede 1822

Editor: This is Carl Wilhelm Marckwort's 1822 drawing, "Hoekkast met twee leeuwen, vooraanzicht met daaronder een doorsnede" – or, Corner Cupboard with Two Lions, front view with a cross-section below. It’s graphite, pen, and ink on paper. It feels incredibly formal and a little austere. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! It whispers to me of hushed libraries and the dignified rustle of silk. But don’t be fooled, there’s also a delightful playfulness here! Look at those lions perched atop – miniature guardians of knowledge and good taste. Marckwort clearly had a love for Neoclassicism, showcasing form through simple geometric shapes. Editor: So the lions… are they, like, symbolic of anything specific? Curator: I wonder, perhaps they’re a tongue-in-cheek nod to power and prestige, juxtaposed with the very practical function of a corner cupboard? Consider, how often do we take design elements from high culture and then put them into everyday objects. The mind reels! Editor: That's fascinating! It never occurred to me to see humor here. Thanks! Curator: And thank you for opening up my eyes to viewing this drawing anew! Who knew a cupboard could be so thought-provoking?