De giraffe 1894 - 1959

Curator: So, here we have "De Giraffe," a watercolor drawing, dating roughly from 1894 to 1959, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. The artist is listed as Gordinne. What are your immediate impressions? Editor: There’s an almost unsettling vulnerability to its form; it’s simultaneously regal and rather frail looking. The colors are subdued, lending a sort of melancholy air. It feels very much of a particular time and place. Curator: That sense of melancholy perhaps comes from understanding the broader colonial context in which such images were created. Here, the giraffe is presented almost as a specimen, detached from its own habitat and viewed through a Western lens. Editor: Exactly. The composition also speaks to this. The backdrop, a muted landscape, almost feels secondary to the presentation of the animal, like a staged set. You see this too, in similar depictions of natural "curiosities" showcased for their novelty value and reinforcing colonial power structures of collection and classification. What strikes me, though, is that its technique blends fine art illustration with functional instructional design. It’s this utilitarian element I appreciate. Curator: Absolutely. The stark contrast and meticulous details probably were essential for educational use, particularly with regards to its original European audience, which at the time probably lacked a real life encounter with one. Yet this very function has contributed to the dehumanization and erasure that many non-European cultures have undergone and is visible in such images. The illustration served to 'introduce' a certain group or place to an international public, while inevitably presenting a very one-sided view that perpetuated cultural biases. Editor: Interesting... Seeing how those values materialized via technique does shed light on the piece’s legacy. This prompts important conversations. I’ll keep all of that in mind as I study "De Giraffe" moving forward. Curator: Indeed. Approaching artwork with multiple viewpoints certainly helps me deepen my own insights, and also highlights how various historical, cultural, or other complex forces might leave marks and implications within artwork that must not be overlooked.