Het bad 1894 - 1959

Curator: Here we have "Het Bad", or "The Bath," a narrative drawing made with pen and pencil between 1894 and 1959, and signed Monogrammist G.J. It tells a story through a series of little scenes. Editor: Well, hello to a storyboard that decided to have some fun! There is something so very playful about this one. It feels almost like…what are those, little window panes opening onto a really quirky theater performance? Curator: It certainly draws on comic strip conventions. You see the recurring figure of the soldier moving through these little panels, each depicting a moment in what appears to be a rather humorous adventure. Genre painting with a whimsical twist, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Absolutely. And that twist is precisely what captures my imagination. Look at the scene with the soldiers in disguise, covered head to toe in leaves! It’s pure, delightful absurdity! I can see those leaves as both concealment but also costume. Curator: The artist has an interesting perspective on authority figures; it's intriguing how easily these soldiers seem to relinquish their seriousness. Perhaps that leafy scene also recalls primal stories of wilderness and transformation. There is an untamed element emerging. Editor: I can't help but wonder about the moment where the soldier in the water seems to find an abandoned hat or perhaps a forgotten belonging of his foe, submerged…that little piece adds a tinge of mystery. Almost a melancholy moment amidst the zaniness! And look at the color palette! Earthy tones mostly; makes the bathing soldiers scene so refreshing. Curator: I concur! This piece certainly encourages a bit of contemplation under its lighthearted exterior. A bit of subtle satire that has stood the test of time perhaps? Editor: Yes, I think, despite its silliness, it's incredibly memorable precisely because it triggers us to start guessing at the backstories.