Twee mannen, één met hoge muts 1760 - 1774

Antoon Overlaet created this tiny drawing of two men sometime in the mid-18th century using pen and ink on paper. At just 26 by 28 millimeters, its humble scale speaks volumes about the social context of artmaking at the time. Overlaet’s quick, economic strokes capture the characters with simple directness. The pen’s responsiveness allows for subtle variations in line weight, suggesting form and texture without laborious detail. Was this drawing preparatory, or an end in itself? Either way, its immediacy sets it apart from the highly finished paintings that were then considered the apex of artistic achievement. The artist’s chosen medium aligns him more closely with the graphic arts, dependent on replicability and distribution, than with the unique aura of painting or sculpture. It is a reminder that art exists across a spectrum of material approaches, each imbued with its own set of social and cultural values. Appreciating Overlaet's drawing, we embrace the expanded field of art history.