Langharige geiten 1849 - 1917

Editor: Here we have Matthijs Maris’s "Langharige geiten," dating from 1849 to 1917. It’s a pen and pencil sketch of long-haired goats on paper, held at the Rijksmuseum. There's something really raw about it, like looking at a fleeting moment captured in someone's personal sketchbook. What's your take on this piece? Curator: Indeed, it gives us a privileged glimpse into the artist's process. Considering Maris's socio-political context, these seemingly simple studies of goats invite us to consider larger questions about rural life and labor in 19th-century Netherlands. Think about the relationship between humans, animals, and the land. How does the sketch aesthetic either reinforce or subvert traditional depictions of pastoral idylls? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it in terms of labor! It seems very spontaneous, a quick capturing of form. So, are you suggesting that even something like this might carry a deeper meaning connected to societal structures of the time? Curator: Absolutely. The apparent ease and spontaneity can be deceiving. Maris was working within a time of immense social change, with urbanization and industrialization impacting rural communities. The very act of choosing these subjects, depicting them in a rudimentary form, might be a commentary on the romanticized views of rural existence versus its harsh realities. Also, consider art education - whose gaze were the students drawing for? How were animals and land being framed to reinforce or undermine established orders? Editor: That’s a powerful way to look at it! I guess I’ve always approached sketches as purely aesthetic exercises, but positioning them within their socio-historical moment definitely changes the way I see this piece and the role of animals in that landscape. Curator: Exactly! By viewing art as a product and a producer of culture, we open up richer understandings of the artist and of ourselves. These sketched goats aren’t just goats, they reflect societal anxieties. Editor: I’ll definitely be keeping that in mind going forward! Thanks for the insight.