Jongen verstikt een wolf 1836

Editor: So, here we have "Jongen verstikt een wolf," or "Boy Strangling a Wolf," a pencil drawing by Johannes Steyn from 1836, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. My first impression is of dramatic tension – it’s like a snapshot of a folk tale. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: I see echoes of ancient narratives, of the hero child protecting the domestic space. Think of Romulus and Remus suckled by a wolf, then see here a young boy locked in mortal combat. This imagery touches something primal within us, doesn't it? It reminds us of the fragility of life and the constant struggle against chaos. Editor: Yes, it does. Do you think Steyn was consciously referencing those older myths? Curator: Perhaps, but the power resides less in direct reference and more in tapping into the underlying symbolism. What does the wolf *mean* here? It's not just a literal animal; it’s hunger, savagery, the wild encroaching upon civilization. The boy, a symbol of youthful innocence, steps up to defend his own. Editor: It is an interesting detail that the scene seems to be happening indoors, beside a cradle. Curator: Exactly! It elevates the image, suggesting that the primal chaos is trying to get into the home. Editor: It’s a dark scene for what I imagine were simpler times. What do you make of that choice? Curator: Romanticism favored dramatic narratives and a turn from reason. What I like about Steyn's work is that this is a drawing in the modern sense: a thought, quickly rendered, rather than the final object. How different from later artistic investigations in realism and impressionism. Editor: Fascinating. I’ll certainly view it differently now.