Zuil c. 1728 - 1732

This page from a ledger, made in 1819, lists materials and prices, accompanied by a small sketch of a ‘Zuil,’ or column. It’s anonymous, and utilitarian, but richly suggestive of craft and commerce. The handwritten inventory lists pigments like ‘87mo groen’ – 87 shades of green – alongside other materials like plaster and glass. The presence of these items offers a glimpse into the art market of the time, where color and form were valued as commodities. Look closely at the sketch of the column. It's just a quick draft, but the artist has also noted its dimensions in the margins. The precise calculations of material expenses speak to the labor involved, and how it all translates into a final cost. The whole thing reveals the intricate connections between art, economics, and the everyday life of those who produced and consumed art. It encourages us to look beyond the finished product, recognizing the labor and context that shape artistic creation.