Krokodil 1867 - 1903

Curator: Looking at this unassuming pencil sketch, titled "Krokodil," which the Rijksmuseum dates to between 1867 and 1903, I find myself strangely captivated. Editor: It does have a certain rough charm. I immediately feel the humidity, the heavy, languid air of a tropical setting. Is it the almost casual rendering that makes it so evocative? Curator: Perhaps. What resonates with me is the cultural weight carried by the crocodile, an ancient symbol appearing in diverse mythologies – from Sobek in ancient Egypt to folktales in Africa and the Americas. Its presence almost universally signifies danger and primal power. Editor: You're right, there is a visceral, instinctive recognition of that danger. It also evokes a history of colonial encounters – European artists venturing into 'exotic' lands, documenting 'wildlife.' Curator: Precisely. The sketch aesthetic points to a time when encounters with nature were framed by colonial narratives, yet in the simplicity of the line work, we get the personal vision, the eye of the artist. And notice how this ‘danger’ lies placid on a rock! What shift in power does that imply, I wonder? Editor: Or perhaps in our own presumed dominion! This is such a curious thing to see as it could suggest many social implications during that time with the shifting landscape between people and nature. Curator: The way that initial power could lie inert, dormant! Perhaps an opportunity to reassess our perception. And note what seems to be another larger rendering sketch behind, even less detailed? More symbolic gesture? A sign or a message? Editor: Possibly a meditation, maybe something as a preparation study for something greater or a symbolic mark in one’s sketchbook that can serve as something only the artist could derive. It is all indeed an opening into a fascinating symbolic layering Curator: Indeed, what may seem simple reveals profound cultural currents when examined through the lens of artistic technique and historical understanding. Editor: This humble sketch certainly provides rich food for thought! A good pause for consideration.