IJs-Club / Hardrijderij op schaatsen door mannen en vrouwen gehouden te Leeuwarden op den 22 Februarij 1855 1855

Curator: Look at this pen and ink drawing. It’s titled “IJs-Club / Hardrijderij op schaatsen door mannen en vrouwen gehouden te Leeuwarden op den 22 Februarij 1855” – quite a mouthful! It’s anonymous, dating back to 1855 and now resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My goodness, what a stiff scene! These two men huddled around the table practically exude tension. You can feel the silence in the room pressing down. Curator: It's a snapshot of Dutch society, immortalized in a drawing celebrating an ice-skating race, it seems a study in stillness amidst potential chaos. The game on the table provides some narrative elements... Editor: Absolutely, a fascinating juxtaposition. Here, the men, locked in their own contest while oblivious of others. And the game pieces – symbols of power, negotiation, a tiny world mirroring larger societal games. I wonder, is it simply checkers, or is something more elaborate being alluded to? Curator: It certainly looks like they are engrossed in deep consideration! It invites reflection on what it meant to be alive then, especially juxtaposed with images of frenetic activity, the joy, the freedom and swiftness of speed skating Editor: Look how sharply defined the edges of the furniture, their clothing, and the small gaming pieces, but compare that with how vague the background is, the almost comic lines representing something huge Curator: The sharp detail directs all of our attention, where nothing is soft, and they sit square with each other as though in an open confrontation Editor: Yes, the entire sketch holds so much character, despite its static presentation. Like peering into a frozen moment in a very interesting story. Curator: So true, the charm really comes in all the detail and precision offered up within an ephemeral scene. And as such it manages to tell a rather interesting story. Editor: And as an observer it reminds me how we often box ourselves in. Let’s unbox!