Falkenjäger zu Pferde, den Falken auf der Faust, hinter ihm sein Diener zu Fuß mit den Hunden 

Curator: Here we have Nicolaes Berchem's drawing titled "Falkenjager zu Pferde, den Falken auf der Faust, hinter ihm sein Diener zu Fuss mit den Hunden," which translates to "Falconer on Horseback, the Falcon on his Fist, Behind him his Servant on Foot with Dogs." Editor: It feels incredibly alive, doesn't it? Just a flurry of pencil strokes, but you can practically hear the hounds panting and the horse’s hooves striking the earth. A real Baroque energy about it, even in this preliminary state. Curator: Absolutely. The dynamism inherent in Baroque art is strikingly evident even in a sketch such as this. Consider the strategic placement of lines: see how they guide the eye, fostering a sense of depth and movement. Editor: Yes! That servant, almost dissolving into the landscape with these light touches…He’s there and not there all at once. It really captures the fleeting nature of a hunting scene, the breathlessness of the chase. Do you get a sense of the sounds just looking at it? The hawks cry, maybe a horn in the distance? Curator: Berchem adeptly uses line to denote spatial relations. The falconer, elevated on horseback, is thrust forward in perspective. Meanwhile, the servant is relegated to a supporting role by utilizing more diluted, spare markings in relation to his master. Editor: Harsh, but fair. The falconer's front and center, preening almost. He’s like some fantastical creature himself, with all those flamboyant plumes on his headgear, sitting very pretty with his hunting bird perched on his gloved hand, right in the heat of the hunt. And those confident sweeping pencil marks! You can practically feel Berchem's hand moving across the paper. Curator: Notice also how Berchem establishes contrast through light and shadow—areas of dense hatching denote shadows to establish the three dimensionality of his forms while leaving others intentionally sparse. Editor: For all the careful control, there’s still something wonderfully impulsive about the sketch as a whole. He makes it seem so… effortless, like the lines just sprang to life on the page to make this beautiful, fleeting thing. Curator: A perfect intersection of spontaneity and meticulousness. Thank you for illuminating those features! Editor: Anytime. A pleasure to wander in the world Berchem created, if only for a short while!