Rijnlandse boer en boerin 1823 - 1829

Editor: This is "Rijnlandse boer en boerin," a drawing and print by Willem van Senus, sometime between 1823 and 1829. The subdued colours and precise lines give it the feeling of a carefully observed record. What aspects of the composition stand out to you? Curator: The first element that strikes me is the pronounced contrast of textures. Note how the smoothness of the page is juxtaposed against the rough garments and wooden barrel. This tactile dimension introduces a complex interplay between surface and depth, flatness and dimensionality. The work seems to ask, "How do we create a tangible illusion using only line and color?" Editor: I see what you mean. The very slight shading, for instance, implies rounded forms, but ultimately reminds us it is an image on paper. What is the effect of that contrast? Curator: By acknowledging its constructed nature, the artwork actively involves the viewer in the act of perception. We are forced to consider how our minds translate two-dimensional marks into three-dimensional forms, engaging with the piece on a more cerebral level. The material nature of the drawing challenges us to actively "read" it, and not passively "see" it. Editor: That makes me look at the costumes and how they both define the figures and flatten them onto the page at the same time. Thanks, I am seeing so much more now. Curator: Indeed, the apparent realism deceives, constantly oscillating between representation and its own constructed artifice. A work of fascinating and beautiful contradiction.