Lony staand op een tafel met een telegram before 1954

Curator: Let’s take a closer look at this work, "Lony standing on a table with a telegram," a pen drawing made by Hans Borrebach, sometime before 1954. It's a vibrant tableau. Editor: Yes, instantly the dynamic pose of the woman grabs attention! It’s bursting with this almost manic energy, a playful disregard for conventional composition. Curator: Notice the clear lines defining form, the subtle wash giving volume – all these formal qualities give it a very strong sense of illustration, of character design. It’s more than just a sketch; there's a definite intention here. Editor: Absolutely. Telegrams have, historically, heralded important and impactful announcements—both joyful and grave. She stands above a group that gazes on. It would seem that the meaning has not yet permeated, looking for some understanding from the carrier herself. There's anticipation thick in the air. Curator: Good point. And looking at how Borrebach uses repetition of simple lines to depict the background, we understand that while the woman is highly defined with strong contrast, everything around her is de-emphasized. She’s the nexus of the whole work. Editor: What do you make of the artist’s signature, placed almost as an afterthought, below the seated man. Do you think it undercuts that idea? Curator: Not necessarily; rather it suggests he knew exactly where the eye would travel, from the raised hand holding the telegram, to the crowd, then settling downward to the anchor point which affirms: Borrebach was here. Editor: The almost giddy mood suggests perhaps the message is one of good tidings then. I love that duality between the individual experience and communal reception of news it presents. Curator: I’d agree, this artwork certainly prompts you to want to know what that telegram contains, it draws you in very skillfully. Editor: Indeed, making the symbolism all the more intriguing when placed against the simple elegance of line that shapes this scene. It shows us a shared past in that space between form and sign.