Studieblad met soldaten, honden en figuren in verschillende houdingen 1839 - 1894

Curator: Welcome! We are looking at a page from a sketchbook by Lambertus Lingeman, dating from 1839 to 1894. It’s called "Studieblad met soldaten, honden en figuren in verschillende houdingen" which translates to "Study Sheet with Soldiers, Dogs and Figures in Various Poses." The sheet includes drawings in pencil, pen, and watercolour on toned paper. Editor: It has a raw, energetic feel! Like catching fleeting moments in a notebook. There's something unsettling, but familiar, about how these soldiers are portrayed, interspersed with images of everyday life, like the figures of dogs and civilians. Curator: That immediacy stems from the context of the sketchbook. These weren't intended as finished works but rather studies. Lingeman was preparing for larger compositions perhaps, or just sharpening his skills in observation. His genre paintings often portrayed scenes of Dutch daily life. Editor: The combination of soldiers and genre figures complicates things, doesn't it? During this period, the role of the military and the rise of nationalism influenced visual culture considerably. Are these soldiers romanticized figures of Dutch national pride or merely studies of individuals within a militarized society? Curator: It is a point well-taken. We must remember that during this time, genre painting was employed both to celebrate and subtly critique social realities. This sheet contains some scenes of apparent military exercise or campaign, other sketches display a serene domesticity that could be juxtaposed. It would certainly serve the rising middle class seeking artistic representations of their national identity. Editor: Exactly, and the dogs! They’re not just incidental, right? They echo class distinctions; perhaps indicating the use of dogs within elite hunts versus their use as working animals? The dogs are both creatures of leisure and active participants. Curator: The multiple sketches give this one-page an ambiguous quality which does lend itself to diverse readings about military might, social hierarchy and, generally, an engagement of public life. It also offers access into the artist's thought process at the time. Editor: It is intriguing, it suggests an insight on how societal observations could serve for ideological state apparatus and narrative construction. So the artwork becomes a mirror reflecting back to the changing role of military. Curator: Absolutely. Next time you find yourself sketching, perhaps consider what those rapid impressions say about the world around you. Editor: It is about time for all of us to reflect on who and what we are truly sketching as well.