Visit to the Zoo c. 1800 - 1837

Pieter Barbiers created this drawing of a zoo visit in the late 18th or early 19th century, using pen and brush in brown and gray ink, with some pencil underdrawing. Look closely, and you'll notice the quick, efficient strokes. Barbiers wasn't aiming for a polished, finished product. The choice of humble materials and rapid execution speaks to the work's likely function: a preparatory sketch. These were the means by which artists developed larger compositions. The immediacy and lack of finish allow us to see Barbiers at work, capturing a scene from life. Consider the social context: zoos were increasingly popular entertainments for the rising middle class. Capturing this shift towards popular leisure is no small thing. This drawing reminds us that even seemingly simple sketches can offer valuable insights into the relationship between artistic process, social change, and the everyday experiences of people in the past. By looking closely at materials and making, we expand our understanding of art beyond traditional categories.