Zittende schaatser, een pijp rokend 1842

Pieter van Loon made this drawing of a seated skater smoking a pipe in 1842. Look closely, and you will notice it is made from the humble materials of graphite on paper. Van Loon has used shading to give a sense of three-dimensionality to the figure, bringing the skater to life. Yet, the choice of graphite is interesting. It’s a material associated with sketching and preliminary studies, rather than finished works of art. This gives the drawing a sense of immediacy and informality. The skater is depicted in a moment of leisure, taking a break from his activity. But we can still see his skates. Skating was a popular pastime in the Netherlands, enjoyed by people of all classes, but the skates themselves would have been handcrafted, with metal blades and leather straps. This drawing, then, captures a moment of everyday life. It also reflects the skills and labor involved in producing even the simplest of objects.