Slapende baby in een wieg 1754 - 1825

This drawing, "Sleeping Baby in a Cradle," was made by Hermanus Numan, using pen in brown and brush in brown, likely in the late 18th century. The drawing is defined by the artist's intricate linework and attention to detail. Note the woven texture of the basket and the soft folds of the draped fabric. These aspects give the drawing a tactile quality. The basket itself is significant: not just a functional object, but also a marker of social context, and the amount of labor involved in its creation. Consider the time and skill required to weave such a basket, and the societal implications of such craftwork. The artist's choice to depict this particular subject elevates a humble, everyday object to a level of artistic importance, blurring the lines between the fine arts and the craft traditions. This invites us to consider the value we place on different forms of making.