Staande vrouw 1728 - 1789

Jacob Hoolaart made this small drawing of a standing woman with pen in brown ink, sometime in the 18th century. Looking closely, you'll notice the artist's attention to line and form, using simple strokes to delineate the figure's clothing and posture. The material qualities of pen and ink lend a directness to the image, with each stroke revealing the artist's hand. It’s only 34 millimeters high! Consider the social context: Hoolaart was working at a time when the Dutch Republic was a major center of trade and artistic production. The relative ease with which a drawing like this can be made belies the labor and materials required to produce even the simplest artwork. The quick strokes and intimate scale are the key to the artwork's impact, demonstrating how materials and making intertwine with social context, challenging the divide between fine art and everyday life.