Vier dieren, waaronder een hond en een koe 1913 - 1945

Curator: This drawing at the Rijksmuseum, simply titled "Vier dieren, waaronder een hond en een koe," or "Four animals, including a dog and a cow" in English, was created by Henk Henriët sometime between 1913 and 1945. It's rendered in pen and pencil. Editor: It's a study, right? A light, airy sketch that looks like it's capturing fleeting moments. I’m particularly drawn to the solid black cow at the bottom, the boldest of all. It provides an interesting anchor. Curator: Precisely! You see Henriët experimenting here, rapidly capturing these animals. The varied linework suggests he’s less interested in precise representation and more in seizing an impression. This makes it feel like a glimpse into the artist's working method, a direct encounter with the creative process. The cows and the dog were likely figures encountered frequently. Editor: Well, it feels rooted in a deeply rural visual language. The dog and cows – stand-ins for loyalty, domesticity, provision. These animals possess complex meanings across cultures and eras, even functioning as deities in some ancient belief systems. The symbolism is both potent and down-to-earth, grounding the ethereal sketches into something meaningful to common lived experience. Curator: Absolutely. And that universality perhaps explains why, even in its unfinished state, the piece resonates so strongly. Henriët came from a family deeply rooted in agriculture. Understanding that informs us how to interpret his connection with his surrounding environment, adding meaning to this and other artworks. This art feels both personal, rooted in Henriët's history, but can still mean a lot to our modern society. Editor: It also makes one wonder if he saw some symbolic kinship between them and us. In what small way are we not just driven by loyalty or base needs. Curator: Exactly. This is a valuable demonstration about context – which expands a sketch into social, even philosophical territories. Editor: Right. That contrast between our readings creates a very stimulating art encounter.