Æselhoved 1844

Curator: This lithograph, "Æselhoved," or "Donkey Head," dates back to 1844. Editor: A donkey’s head…it’s rendered with such earnestness, almost like a formal portrait. A very stoic, and slightly melancholic donkey! Curator: Indeed. It’s quite beautifully executed; the artist worked with charcoal and pencil on this print. The fine details are incredible for that period, capturing so much of the donkey's soft muzzle and watchful eyes. There's something disarming about the vulnerability captured in an animal's gaze like this. Editor: Yes, you immediately read its quiet sentience. Throughout history, the donkey appears as both a beast of burden, representative of labour, patience and humbleness; and also a symbol of stubbornness or foolishness. One can argue that the piece challenges our own preconceived judgements by allowing the donkey’s likeness to possess such subtle agency. Curator: And the piece encourages such rumination; you begin thinking about these loaded ideas surrounding the symbol of the animal, how animals generally mirror humanity and vice-versa. Editor: It’s precisely the kind of work that lingers in the mind; perhaps urging us to pause, empathise, and, crucially, question inherited prejudices. After all, aren’t we all a little bit donkey sometimes? Curator: You’re so right, what a wonderful place for thought, and even empathy. This small glimpse of this single donkey makes the world feel so much bigger somehow.