Sammenkrøbet mand med vædderhorn og vandsæk 1879 - 1937

Editor: This is "Sammenkrøbet mand med vædderhorn og vandsæk," or "Crouching Man with Ram's Horn and Waterskin," a wood sculpture by Anders Bundgaard, created sometime between 1879 and 1937. The monochrome gives it an archaic, almost biblical feel, wouldn't you agree? What do you see in this intriguing work? Curator: It whispers to me of primal struggles, of the weight of existence. That crouching figure, the rough-hewn wood... It's raw emotion, isn’t it? Bundgaard wasn’t just sculpting wood; he was wrestling with ideas of humanity's burden. That ram's horn, a symbol of strength and stubbornness, yet here, it feels… deflated? A strange combination with the waterskin. Does it imply that he's sustained but exhausted by life's journey? What is your take? Editor: I was going to suggest maybe the waterskin refers to being full of oneself, while still appearing burdened. Maybe he saw some irony there? The waterskin might also simply represent sustenance. It is a very peculiar coupling of symbols, as you say, the strong horn, yet huddled figure. Curator: Yes! The contrast. That’s Bundgaard's magic, I think. He gives us these familiar symbols and twists them. Is the crouch a defense, a defeat, or simply a moment of respite before the next climb? He invites us to complete the story. And isn’t that what great art does? It's like catching a fragment of someone else's dream. You start painting your own over it. Editor: Absolutely. It certainly sparks my imagination more now than at first glance. I love how the raw, carved wood gives the figure an immediate feeling of groundedness. Curator: Exactly! And you start to wonder, what burden would cause such a strong ram to curl in on itself? I shall now pose with it! Thank you. I may or may not do a better pose. Editor: (Laughs) Thanks, that gave me a lot to consider. A solid choice for further pondering on my walk home!