Kissir [?] turc espece d’harpe before 1828

Pierre Félix van Doren created this drawing, Kissir [?] turc espece d’harpe, with pen on paper. The materiality of this work is straightforward: ink applied with a point to a woven substrate. Van Doren has clearly emphasized line and form to give dimension to a Turkish harp, or kissir. He gives depth to the design through the use of thin and precise lines which form the shape of the instrument, accompanied by decorative elements like ribbons and floral motifs. Notice how the visual impact relies on the precision of the lines and the contrast between the black ink and the plain paper. However, the work also suggests the kind of labor that is often overlooked. The production of paper itself has a long history with its own craft and industrial processes. Similarly, ink production involves complex methods of grinding and mixing materials. This drawing, therefore, is not simply a matter of artistic imagination, but also a result of these material histories. Acknowledging this helps us appreciate the full scope of creative practices and their connections to broader social and economic contexts.